‘You have just killed one of the moments of the season’ – Gary Neville is stinging in his criticism of VAR at Anfield

Cherki scored into an empty net at Anfield as the hosts were chasing the game with only seconds remaining as his shot from the centre-circle trickled into the net after Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai clashed as they chased it down.

Szoboszlai first tugged Haaland back before the Norway striker then obstructed his opponent as the ball crossed the line, with referee Craig Pawson awarding the goal.

However, wild City celebrations were cut short as the VAR advised Pawson to rule out the goal and take play back to Szoboszlai's original foul, with the Liverpool player shown a straight red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Neville, on co-commentary for Sky Sports, said: "That feels so unjust, I know there are rules, but there is the smell of the game, it's completely gone.

"There is no person who would disallow that goal. But it's going to be disallowed. Talk about kill joy. Liverpool lose by getting a man sent off. City lose because they don't get a goal.

"Everyone is asking the question. Just let the goal be. Let the goal be, guys. You have just killed one of the moments of the season."

City fell behind to Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick but kept themselves in the title race with goals in the final six minutes from Bernardo Silva and Haaland's penalty.

Roy Keane believes City's win will be worth more than three points as they aim to chase down Arsenal.

"Huge result. Big lift for City, obviously their record here is not great, a goal down," he said. "The manager Pep spoke before about needing to show personality and character and this City team showed that, particularly in the second half.

"They were very good, in terms of the football in the first half. We have been critical of this team over the last 18 months because of the standard City have set and this team hasn't really reached it.

"But they did today in the second half, to show that desire. It is more than three points today, I think, it's psychologically a big lift and it's a bit of a hammer blow for Arsenal.

"To see City going a goal down, you think it's a long way back with their record, so to get the three points is huge."

Defeat for Liverpool leaves them four points off fifth, which should be enough to earn Champions League qualification.

But former captain Jamie Carragher believes it could already be too big a gap.

"When you are looking at the league for Liverpool, it is looking like a long way to get Champions League positions in the top five," he said. "There is a gap now.

"They are in two cup competitions that they will have to do well in to save the season, it looks a long way back."

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