Manchester City delivered a deafening statement of intent against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon - but the game at the Etihad was not without controversy
Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool were on the wrong end of a decision against Man City
Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool were on the wrong end of a decision against Man City
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Wayne Rooney believes Virgil Van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City should have stood. Liverpool were swept aside at the Etihad after goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku.
However, there was controversy when Van Dijk saw an equaliser ruled out for offside. The Dutchman headed home a corner, but Andy Robertson was adjudged to be interfering with play, and the goal was ruled out.
But Rooney believes the wrong decision was made, saying: "The Van Dijk goal should have stood.
"I don't think Andy Robertson delayed Donnarumma diving. The City keeper can see the ball the whole way, so I think that was the wrong decision."
Reacting to the decision after the game, Reds boss Arne Slot said: "It is difficult to give my view. It is obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion.
"He didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do. Immediately after the game someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed - City against Wolves last season.
"So it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it was offside. So there was clearly communication, but as I said, that could have influenced the game in a positive way for us."
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk saw his goal ruled out vs Man City
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"Then, of course, there was five or 10 minutes that were influential to the game. Instead of going 1-1 or 2-1 it was 2-0 at half-time. First half, it was obvious that they were better than us."
Liverpool have lost four away games in succession for the first time in 13 years and conceded 17 goals in their 11 league matches. And Roy Keane claimed after the game that the Reds are a side in crisis.
He said: “At this moment in time you can’t be considering Liverpool for the Premier League title.
“I think it is crisis time for Liverpool. Defensively they are all over the place. The full-backs are a huge problem, the centre-half (Ibrahima Konate) looks a nervous wreck.”
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