THE “ANFIELD HEIST”: VAR Under Fire After City Snatches 2-1 Win Amid Penalty Fury.

 The most anticipated match of the 2026 season has ended in total refereeing chaos. While Manchester City are celebrating a massive 2-1 comeback victory that keeps their title hopes alive, Liverpool fans are calling it a “daylight robbery.” From a disallowed “equalizer” to a late penalty that decided the game, Craig Pawson and the VAR team at Stockley Park are at the center of a storm that could define the title race.  

Despite Dominik Szoboszlai’s world-class free-kick, City’s late surge—and a controversial intervention by VAR—has left Anfield in a state of “pure rage.”

THE “GHOST GOAL”:‼️ Why Rayan Cherki’s Halfway Strike Was Cancelled

The game reached a peak of absurdity in the 12th minute of stoppage time. With Alisson Becker up in the City box for a desperate corner, City cleared the ball to Rayan Cherki, who rolled a 50-yard strike into an empty net.  

• The Goal: Cherki thought he had made it 3-1.

• The VAR Drama: VAR John Brooks intervened, spotting a double-foul in the buildup. While Haaland and Szoboszlai were “tussling” for the ball, the referee ruled that Szoboszlai had initiated the contact by tugging Haaland’s shirt.  

• The Red Card: Instead of a goal, the referee disallowed the strike and sent off Szoboszlai for a “professional foul,” awarding City a free kick instead.  

“VAR CHEATED US”:‼️ The Penalty That Decided It All

While the disallowed goal was bizarre, the real fury stems from the 91st minute. Matheus Nunes went down in the box under a challenge from Alisson, and Craig Pawson immediately pointed to the spot.  

PGMOL STATEMENT: “The decision to award the penalty was confirmed by VAR. It was determined that Alisson Becker made no contact with the ball and clearly impeded the progress of Nunes. The on-field decision was not deemed a clear and obvious error.”

Liverpool fans, however, are pointing to a similar incident at the other end just minutes earlier involving Florian Wirtz and Ruben Dias, where no penalty was given. “Not fair for England referees,” one fan wrote online. “They seem to be favoring Manchester City to win the match.”

ANFIELD IN REVOLT:‼️ “What is Football Turning Into?”

The defeat leaves Liverpool six points behind leaders Arsenal, while City have narrowed the gap to just eight points. The fallout from the refereeing decisions is expected to lead to a formal complaint from Arne Slot, who was seen in a heated exchange with the fourth official after the final whistle.

• The Szoboszlai Ban: The Hungarian hero will now miss three games, a “devastating” blow given he had just scored the goal of the season.  

• The “City Bias” Claims: Social media is flooded with clips of the “Doku vs. Mac Allister” echo, with fans claiming the PGMOL is protecting City’s title charge.

Was it a clear penalty for City, or was Alisson unfairly targeted? And with Szoboszlai out, is Liverpool’s title charge officially over?