Gary Neville complained over a ‘killjoy’ decision to rule out Manchester City’s third goal against Liverpool amid chaotic scenes during their dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Man City had fallen behind to a stunning Dommink Szoboszlai free kick in the 74th minute, but a Bernardo Silva strike and stoppage time Erling Haaland penalty saw Pep Guardiola’s side turn the match around.
Having been at risk of falling nine points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race, Man City moved to the brink of closing the gap back to six points, before a final dramatic moment of the match.
With Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson out of goal as the hosts attempted to push for an equaliser at Anfield, Rayan Cherki seized on a loose ball and attempted a low shot from close to the halfway line.
As the ball agonisingly moved towards the goal, Haaland and Szoboszlai set off in pursuit.
Szoboszlai was seen pulling at Haaland’s shirt with referee Craig Pawson signalling for an advantage for Man City.
As Szoboszlai overtook Haaland as a consequence of the pull, Haaland responded by tugging at the Liverpool midfielder’s shirt to prevent him from reaching the ball, which ultimately rolled into the net to appear to put Man City 3-1 up.
Amid jubilant Man City celebrations, VAR then began checking the goal and ruled that due to Haaland’s foul on Szoboszlai, the referee needed to go back to punish the initial foul made by the Liverpool player.
‘The VAR is saying you cannot play advantage, but then ignore that,’ Neville said on Sky Sports as the referee reviewed the incidents at the pitch side monitor.
‘That feels so unjust, I know there are rules but there is a smell of the game that’s completely gone.
‘I don’t think he will be okay the referee, because he will realise he has made the right decision.
‘There is no football person who would disallow that goal, but it is going to be disallowed.’
Pawson then explained to the crowd that the goal was to be ruled out, with Man City instead awarded a free kick and Szoboszlai be shown a red card for the initial foul.
‘After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominic Szoboszlai,’ Pawson said.
‘Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offence that denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
‘The final decision is a direct free kick to Manchester City and a red card.’
Reacting on Sky Sports, Neville complained ‘Talk about a killjoy. They have just killed one of the great moments of the season.’
In strange scenes, both sets of players appearing frustrated by the decision with Man City bemoaning the goal being disallowed and Liverpool rueing Szoboszlai’s dismissal.
Man City would ultimately seal a crucial 2-1 victory, with matchwinner Haaland admitting post match had felt sympathy for Szoboszlai due to the Liverpool star now having to serve a ban for the red card.
‘I think for me of course the referee has to follow the rules,’ Haaland said.
‘This will give him three games, I feel bad for him, he gets three games, just give the goal don’t give the red card.
‘(But) it’s the rules so this is how it is. In the end Cherki passed me the ball so he scores, so that’s just how it is.’
Despite Haaland’s remarks, Szoboszlai is set to be given a one-match ban due to his red card being the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
Reflecting on the incident post-match, Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards said the officials for coming to the right decision, despite admitting disappointment that the goal had to be ruled out.
‘They have applied the law, what are they supposed to he,’ Richards said. ‘Haaland has tugged him, so there is not much they can do.’
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher reflected that Szoboszlai had made an error in fouling Haaland, rather than accepting the Reds had lost the match and avoiding being sent off and missing their next match.
‘It is a stupid decision, let the goal go in. It is a daft decision,’ Carragher said.
