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Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. The match delivered high intensity football and a chaotic ending that included a red card decision and a goal ruled out after a lengthy review. The result allowed City to stay in touch with league leaders Arsenal while Liverpool dropped valuable points at home.
City Turn the Game Around Late
Liverpool looked on course for a crucial win after taking the lead in the 74th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai found the breakthrough with a well taken finish that lifted the Anfield crowd and put pressure on the visitors. Manchester City responded with urgency as the match entered its closing stages.
In the 84th minute Bernardo Silva equalized from close range after sustained City pressure. The goal shifted momentum and forced Liverpool to defend deeper as City pushed for a winner. That decisive moment arrived in stoppage time when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson committed a foul inside the penalty area.
Erling Haaland stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick in the third minute of added time. The goal gave City a 2-1 lead and appeared to settle the contest but the drama was far from over.
The Bizarre Ending Explained
As Liverpool searched for a last minute equalizer the game opened up. In the 100th minute Alexis Mac Allister forced a strong save from City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. With the ball recycled quickly Alisson left his goal to join the attack in a desperate attempt to salvage a point.
Manchester City regained possession and substitute Rayan Cherki spotted the empty net from inside his own half. He struck a long range effort as both Erling Haaland and Szoboszlai sprinted back toward goal.
During the chase Szoboszlai tugged Haaland’s shirt to slow him down. Moments later Haaland pulled back as well but neither player reached the ball before it rolled into the net. The referee initially awarded the goal and City players celebrated what seemed to be the decisive moment.
VAR Review and Red Card Decision
After the goal was given the video assistant referee intervened. The referee was sent to the pitch side monitor to review the earlier foul. Officials determined that Szoboszlai’s pull on Haaland denied a clear goal scoring opportunity.
In the 113th minute Szoboszlai was shown a red card. Because the foul occurred before the ball crossed the line the goal was ruled out under the laws of the game. The decision caused confusion and extended the match well beyond the originally announced stoppage time.
Although the disallowed goal did not change the final score it added to the tension and underlined the chaotic nature of the closing minutes.
What the Result Means
The win marked Manchester City’s first league double over Liverpool since the 1936 37 season. Pep Guardiola’s side ended the weekend six points behind Arsenal and gained momentum after an uneven start to the year.
Liverpool remain in sixth place and face an uphill battle in the race for Champions League qualification. They sit five points behind fourth placed Manchester United and four behind Chelsea in fifth. With the Premier League in line to secure an extra Champions League spot next season the margin for error remains slim.
Final Takeaway
Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Liverpool will be remembered as much for its controversial ending as for its impact on the title race. Late goals refereeing decisions and VAR intervention combined to produce one of the most talked about finishes of the Premier League season.
