Dominik Szoboszlai red card vs. Man City, explained: Why Liverpool man was sent off and Rayan Cherki goal disallowed

Manchester City made it clear that they are still in the Premier League title race as they battled to a 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's side trailed 1-0 thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai's thunderous free-kick, but Bernardo Silva prodded in an equaliser after the Liverpool man had played him onside.

Erling Haaland then converted a penalty in the 93rd minute to put City ahead, prompting desperate measures from the reigning champions, who sent goalkeeper Alisson forward in search of an equaliser.

That led to one of the more bizarre VAR incidents of the season, as Liverpool were spared a third City goal but had Szoboszlai shown a straight red card.

MORE: Highlights and stats from Man City's win at Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai red card vs. Man City, explained

Szoboszlai was shown a red card in the 13th minute of second-half injury time for the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

That's the simple version, anyway.

Liverpool, seeking a dramatic equaliser, decided to send everyone into the City half, including their goalkeeper. It was actually Alisson jumping for a contested header that then led to the counter-attack that caused the red card.

Substitute Rayan Cherki collected the loose ball, crossed the halfway line, and kicked it towards the empty goal. Haaland and Szoboszlai began a race to get to the ball first, and the Liverpool goal-scorer clearly pulled Haaland's jersey in a bid to slow him down. In reaction, Haaland pulled back on Szoboszlai, who was sent sprawling to the turf inside the penalty area, just as the ball trickled over the line from Cherki's initial kick.

City were initially awarded a goal, but referee Craig Pawson was summoned to check the pitchside monitor by VAR John Brooks. After watching back the footage, Pawson decided to disallow City's goal and show a red card to Szoboszlai for the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Why Szoboszlai was sent off and Rayan Cherki goal disallowed

After the pitchside check, Pawson said:  "After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominik Szoboszlai. Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offence that denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The final decision is a direct free-kick to Manchester City and a red card."

The Premier League Match Centre confirmed this version of events via X.

It meant that City's goal did not stand, and instead, they were awarded a free-kick at the point where Szoboszlai pulled Haaland's shirt. The Hungarian was shown a straight red card for denying the goal-scoring opportunity.

The process was sufficiently explained, but City were still left completely bemused at the decision. After all, it was hard to justify awarding the free-kick for denying a goal-scoring opportunity when a goal was actually scored.