Manchester City thought they had scored a third goal in stoppage time against Liverpool but VAR intervened to disallow it and send Dominik Szoboszlai off.
Manchester City's third goal was chalked off after a controversial VAR intervention
Manchester City's third goal was chalked off after a controversial VAR intervention(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Former Manchester City and Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has blasted VAR for interfering in "the most silly way" after Rayan Cherki was denied a third goal vs Liverpool on Sunday. City led 2-1 going into the latter stages of stoppage time with the home side throwing everything forward in search of a winner.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson had gone up for a free kick but was caught in the City half as Cherki looked to have slotted the ball into an empty net from his own half. Initially, it appeared to be a perfectly good goal that should have counted.
However, VAR official John Brooks advised referee Craig Pawson to go to his monitor and review the incident. Confirming the goal was disallowed, Pawson announced: "After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominik Szoboszlai.
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"Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offence that denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The final decision is a direct free kick to Manchester City and a red card." Szoboszlai is now expected to be banned for one match due to being dismissed for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
After the game, Schmeichel did not hold back when asked about the decision, telling ViaPlay: "The on-field decision is goal. He [the referee] gives the goal. Let it be then.
"This is not the referee. Once VAR interferes - and this is, for me, why VAR absolutely doesn't work.
"It makes no sense to let the referee... What's the purpose? Liverpool want the goal to stand because Szoboszlai will be sent off.
"Man City want the goal. That one goal can mean a lot when we get to the end of the season.
"But why is VAR interfering here? What is the purpose? How does that serve football? I just don't get it.
"I've always been an opponent of VAR. I think it is one of the worse things we have introduced into football. And today, they interfered in the most silly way."