Anfield was thrown into total madness in the final moments of one of the Premier League’s most dramatic games this season. Manchester City thought they had delivered a brutal, decisive blow, only for VAR to rule out the goal and leave players, fans, and even Erling Haaland stunned.
Confusion turned into anger, then heartbreak, followed by a controversial red card that could trouble Liverpool for weeks. It was a moment that captured the chaos, tension, and harsh reality of modern football all at once.
City had already done the difficult part. They walked into Anfield, one of the toughest grounds in world football, and battled their way to a 2–1 lead against a Liverpool side fuelled by belief and desperation.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free kick had dragged Liverpool back into the match earlier, sending the home crowd wild and turning the game into a nerve-shredding contest. But City responded like champions, staying calm, taking control again, and forcing Liverpool into one final all-or-nothing push.
Deep into stoppage time, Liverpool knew they had no choice but to gamble. Alisson Becker left his goal and charged forward to join the attack, chasing one last miracle in front of the Kop.
Seeing the goalkeeper in the opposition half said everything. This was pure desperation. Hope mixed with fear. A team throwing everything forward, knowing that one error could end it all.
And that error arrived.
City won the ball back, and Liverpool were suddenly wide open. Rayan Cherki collected possession near the halfway line, lifted his head, and spotted the empty net. For a split second, Anfield stood still. Cherki hit the ball, watching it roll slowly but ominously towards goal, like a nightmare unfolding in slow motion.
Then everything exploded into chaos.
