(Photograph credit score: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Pictures/Michael Regan/Getty Pictures/Peter Byrne/PA Pictures through Getty Pictures))
This Sunday, Anfield witnessed one of many undisputed video games of the season. Manchester Metropolis got here again from a purpose down to grab a dramatic 2-1 victory, but it surely ended with a purple card, a canceled purpose and touchline chaos.
The conflict between the title rivals lived as much as each inch of the hype and delivered a second half of unrelenting drama.
It seemed like Liverpool had struck a decisive blow within the title race, however a late collapse and controversial VAR intervention handed the factors again to Manchester.
Szoboszlai’s free kick gave Liverpool the lead.
After a tense first hour, the impasse was lastly damaged within the 74th minute. Liverpool received a free kick with 25 yards left and Dominik Szoboszlai stepped as much as create a second of magic.
The Hungarian midfielder fired a diagonal shot that left Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded and crashed into the submit to the delight of the Kop.
It was a shot that might have received any sport, and in 10 minutes it actually appeared like it could be the difference-maker.
Alisson Brander provides Erling Haaland a spot win
Metropolis equalized within the 84th minute with a purpose from Bernardo Silva, however the actual turning level got here in stoppage time.
With the sport tied at 1-1, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker suffered a catastrophic hemorrhage.
The Brazilian ran off his line to attempt to include Matheus Nunez, however he fully mistimed his slide and worn out the Metropolis midfielder contained in the field.
With the referee pointing on to the spot, supervisor Erling Haaland stepped as much as silence Anfield and buried a penalty within the backside nook within the 93rd minute to make it 2-1.
Donnarumma makes a surprising stoppage-time save to disclaim Mac Allister
Liverpool did the whole lot of their energy to search out an equalizer and virtually received one late in stoppage time.
Alexis Mac Allister made a clearance on the sting of the field and fired a strong volley into the highest nook.
However Donnarumma made a world-class save, flying to his proper and stealing the ball away.
It was a game-winning intervention that preserved Metropolis’s slim lead within the dying embers of the match.
Controversial VAR drama: Cherki purpose dominated out for chalk, Szoboszlai despatched off
The chaos reached its peak on the one centesimal minute. Alisson went up for a nook for Liverpool and Metropolis broke via on the counter.
Substitute Rayan Cherki made an excellent clearance and slotted the ball into an empty web for what seemed to be Metropolis’s third purpose.
However VAR intervened in a wierd means. Replays confirmed Szoboszlai pulling again Erling Haaland within the build-up as he chased the ball, and Erling Haaland pulling Szoboszlai to stop him from clearing from the purpose line.
As a substitute of preserving the benefit and purpose intact, the referee was instructed to disallow Cherki’s strike resulting from Haaland’s foul on Szoboszlai.
What made issues even stranger was that Szoboszlai’s attackers had been deemed worthy of a purple card for denying them a transparent scoring alternative.
The purpose was disallowed, Szoboszlai was despatched off, Man Metropolis had been awarded a free kick and the ultimate whistle seconds later.
The chaotic and chaotic ending of the breathless encounter left Anfield surprised and Metropolis away in chaos.
