'Just give the goal': Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola react to 'killjoy' Dominik Szoboszlai red card | OneFootball

Stoppage time chaos at Anfield has sparked renewed VAR criticism

Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola have echoed criticism of late VAR drama in their 2-1 comeback win over Liverpool at Anfield, during which Dominik Szoboszlai was controversially sent off in stoppage time.

It was he who broke the deadlock, swerving a free-kick in from a ridiculous distance with a quarter of an hour of regulation time left, but 10 minutes later the Hungarian was found to be playing Bernardo Silva onside as the City skipper latched onto a Haaland knockdown to level the scores.

Liverpool ‘keeper Alisson, evidently keen to make amends for giving away the ultimately decisive penalty, went up for a late corner in search of an equaliser which meant his net was left completely unattended when City won possession.

Noticing this, Rayan Cherki pinged the ball in that direction from the halfway line as Haaland darted after it, chased down by the Reds’ backtracking defence.

That included Szoboszlai, who tussled back and forth with City’s frontman and ultimately joined him in watching the ball trickle over the line without any further touches.

Haaland gave Szoboszlai a tug in response as the ball crossed the line

Getty Images

City’s players wheeled away in celebration, only for a VAR check to result in referee Craig Pawson deciding that Szoboszlai’s pulling of Haaland’s shirt amounted to denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

Pawson promptly disallowed the goal, awarded a free-kick 30 yards out, and showed Szoboszlai a straight red card which will see him suspended for Liverpool’s midweek trip to Sunderland.

Szoboszlai will receive a one-match suspension

AFP via Getty Images

The decision drew immediate criticism from fans online, with City’s own camp responding in kind when pressed on the situation after the match.

"Of course, the referee had to follow the rules,” Haaland began, before adding: "Just give the goal, don't give a red card. Simple as that.

"It's the rules and how it is. [I would understand if] Cherki just passed me the ball so I can score but he didn't want to, so that's just how it is!"

Guardiola, meanwhile, said it should be “common sense” for the goal to be given in that situation.

"Come on referee, give [the] goal and go home!" he added.

Gary Neville, who on commentary duty for Sky Sports, described the decision as a “killjoy”.

“That feels so unjust - I know there's rules, but there is the smell of the game,” said the Manchester United defender turned pundit.

“No referee should disallow that goal. Talk about killjoy. Just let the goal be.

Neville continued: “You have just killed one of the great moments of the season. You live to watch games like this. I am a fan of VAR but it has just killed the joy.

“The reason fans watch football matches is for entertainment and for moments like that.”

Arne Slot declined to comment on the decision for Szoboszlai to be sent off.

Instead, the Liverpool boss criticised the referee and VAR’s call not to change Marc Guehi’s yellow card to a red one after the City defender felled Mohamed Salah on the edge of the area, when the game was goalless shortly before Szoboszlai’s opener.

Arne Slot rued refereeing decisions after his side suffered a rare defeat to City at Anfield

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“That is not the incident we should talk about,” Slot said of the decisions to rule out City’s third goal and send Szoboszlai off. “Maybe [Szoboszlai] should have left it for a goal as it is, but if that is the rule that is what we have to accept.

He added: "If there is any incident we should talk about, it's when Mo Salah is one on one with the goalkeeper. Anyone who has been to this stadium in the last seven or eight years, that is a goal for Salah. Once again, the referee decides not in our favour.

“They have to do their job."