Manchester City's huge 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool ended in bizarre scenes at Anfield as Dominik Szoboszlai was shown a straight red card.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Erling Haaland foul each other during Man City's win over Liverpool(Image: (Michael Regan/Getty Images))View 2 Images
Erling Haaland kept Manchester City in the title race and explained why Dominik Szoboszlai didn't deserve to be sent-off. The Norwegian scored from the penalty spot to secure his side a huge three points.
Liverpool had taken the lead courtesy of Szoboszlai's sensational free-kick midway through the first half. However, Bernardo Silva drew Pep Guardiola's side level, before Haaland scored his first at Anfield to secure his side a 2-1 win.
But City thought they had scored a third in the closing stages of the game when Rayan Cherki rolled the ball from inside his own half after Alisson Becker had gone upfield in search of an equaliser.
However, before the ball hit the back of the net, Szoboszlai pulled Haaland, who then tugged back the Hungary captain and, although referee Craig Pawson initially gave the goal, VAR soon got involved.
And following a review, Pawson decided Haaland had been denied a goal-scoring opportunity - so ruled out the goal, awarded a free-kick 30 yards out and sent-off Szoboszlai.
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Haaland said: "Of course, the referee had to follow the rules, but this will give him three games - in the end I feel bad for him because he gets three games [sic].
"Just give the goal, don't give a red card. Simple as that. It's the rules and how it is. If Cherki just passed me the ball so I can score... but he didn't want to, so that's just how it is!"
Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring for Man City against Liverpool.View 2 Images
On his side's win, fellow City goal-scorer Silva said: "For the distance that we have to Arsenal, coming here it is the toughest place in the Premier League by far, but we needed to go for another goal.
"When I scored, I was happy, but we needed another and Erling got it. Very happy, but these points count as much as any in any other game.
"It has been frustrating, the beginning of the year, because we have not done our job properly. We could be closer to Arsenal. For me, you must imagine how tough it is to win here but I am really happy.
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"I feel the whole team knew before the game if we lost it then the title race was probably over. We felt like we needed to win. The hope is there and we are going to fight until the end. We need to keep doing our job that we haven't done lately."