BritishCoach Pep Guardiola questioned Ruben Dias being denied a goal to double the gap, causing Man City to draw 1-1 with Liverpool in round 13 of the Premier League.
68th minute - when Man City led 1-0, from a corner kick, midfielder Manuel Akanji jumped and argued with goalkeeper Alisson. The ball bounced out at the right range for Ruben Dias to shoot into an empty goal. Referee Chris Kavanagh blew a penalty because he thought Akanji had fouled Alisson, and the VAR team did not change the decision on the field.
After the match, when asked about this decision, Guardiola replied: "After the match in Newcastle and Arsenal, I really don't know. I haven't rewatched that dispute either. Perhaps you have reviewed that situation more than I have."
The situation where Akanji allegedly fouled Alisson caused the referee to refuse to recognize Ruben Dias's shot which was followed by a goal for Man City in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool in round 13 of the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on November 25. . Screenshots
The Spanish coach recalled VAR's controversial decision in Newcastle's 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier this month. In Anthony Gordon's only goal, Joelinton seemed to push midfielder Gabriel Magalhaes down in a high ball challenge, but VAR still recognized the goal. Coach Mikel Arteta criticized this decision as "shameful" and criticized the qualifications of the Premier League referee.
At Etihad Stadium on November 25, Man City played better, controlling the ball 11%, finishing 60 times with five shots on target - compared to Liverpool's 16 and 8. The home team took the lead in the 3th minute, when Nathan Ake dribbled past two Liverpool players and assisted Erling Haaland to score in the face-off.
Unable to finish the match, including Dias's goal being denied, Man City had to pay the price. In the 80th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold shined with a low shot from outside the penalty area, sending the ball diagonally, out of Ederson's reach. The 1-1 result caused Man City to drop to second in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal - the team that won 1-0 at Brentford in the late match.
Guardiola said his students were disappointed to lose the win against Liverpool, but he was satisfied with one point. “That's why after many years, we still play well, when the players are still hungry and sad after this draw. They feel that they have a chance to win,” the Spanish coach expressed. “I told the players it was an unbelievably great game. Football is like that. Statistically, it doesn't matter who deserves to win more. We have a point against Liverpool and I'll take the bottle with a point."
Guardiola in Man City's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Etihad's home field. Image: mancity.com
The tense atmosphere of the crucial match at Etihad Stadium did not end even though the referee blew the final whistle, when Guardiola argued with striker Darwin Nunez. Regarding this incident, the 52-year-old coach replied: "Nothing happened. Nunez is stronger than me. I'm not disappointed with the results, but very satisfied."
Coach Jurgen Klopp also took this incident lightly. "That has nothing to do with the rivalry on the field," coach Duc expressed. “It's just a feeling. I am not involved in the incident and love both of them so I try to reconcile. I also didn't know what happened and didn't understand a word. Guardiola wants to win, so do we."
Hong Duy
