By Martin Graham
The video review system often finds itself squeezed between emotion and regulation, and this late episode at Anfield was a perfect example. What appeared to be a spectacular finale for Manchester City was overturned, sparking frustration across the stadium and beyond.
City believed they had added a decisive third strike in the dying seconds against Liverpool, sealing one of the most chaotic finishes of the campaign. Celebration followed instantly, but it did not last long.
A review was triggered because of an infringement that occurred moments before the ball crossed the line. Although unpopular, the intervention was unavoidable under the laws.
Officials were faced with a situation where an offence directly influenced whether a goal could be stopped. In those circumstances, ignoring the incident was never a realistic option.
How the incident unfolded
With Liverpool pushing for an equaliser, Alisson had moved forward for a late set piece, leaving his goal unguarded. From inside his own half, Rayan Cherki sent the ball rolling towards the vacant net.
Erling Haaland sprinted after it, quickly pulling clear of Dominik Szoboszlai. The City striker had gained a clear advantage and seemed set to finish the move.
However, Szoboszlai tugged him back, an offence spotted by referee Craig Pawson, who chose to allow play to continue. As the ball crept closer to the line, the Liverpool midfielder recovered and prepared to make a last-ditch clearance.
Before that could happen, Haaland grabbed his opponent, preventing any attempt to stop the shot. That second action became decisive.
The earlier foul does not cancel out what followed. Without being impeded, there was a strong chance the defender would have denied the score. For that reason, allowing the goal was never possible.
Reaction and fallout
Had Szoboszlai succeeded in clearing the danger, play would have been pulled back and he would have been dismissed for stopping an obvious chance. The eventual outcome matched that logic: no goal and a sending-off.
From a technical perspective, the officials reached the only conclusion open to them. Still, acceptance proved difficult.
Gary Neville described the call as deeply unsatisfying, arguing that it stripped away one of the season’s standout moments and drained enjoyment from the spectacle.
Roy Keane took the opposite view, suggesting the controversy heightened the tension rather than diminishing it.
Haaland himself admitted sympathy for his former Salzburg colleague, saying the referee had little choice. Pep Guardiola summed up the wider feeling with a plea for simplicity, wishing the goal had been awarded and the evening brought to a close.