High drama as City beat Liverpool

Sometimes the video assistant referee (VAR) just cannot win, stuck in a hole between what feels right in the spirit of the game and what is correct in law.

Manchester City thought they had scored a third goal at Liverpool which would have capped off one of the most dramatic ends to a Premier League game this season.

But it was stripped away by a VAR review for a foul committed just before the ball rolled over the line.

Fans will hate it, pundits won’t like it, and football will turn its nose up too. Yet there really was no way the VAR, John Brooks, could not intervene. A foul was committed that facilitated a goal being scored which might have otherwise been prevented. It is really as simple as that.

It was a unique set of circumstances right at the end of a dramatic game which gave City a 2-1 win at Anfield.

With Alisson marooned upfield for a set-piece as Liverpool searched for a late equaliser, Rayan Cherki kicked the ball towards an empty net from just inside his own half. (BBC)