In a match that might determine the Premier League championship, Liverpool and City met on Sunday at Anfield.
After City took the lead early on, Jurgen Klopp’s team had their turn of the screw.
John Stones, an improbable goal scorer—a former Everton player—broke the deadlock for the visitors.
In response to a deft corner from Kevin De Bruyne, the City center back slid in at the near post to poke the ball beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
This was obviously a drill that Pep Guardiola’s squad had run through in training.
Stones had a clear run at the near post because Nathan Ake, another Liverpool player, obstructed Alexis Mac Allister’s coverage at that area of the penalty area.
I am preparing a screen to place near the post. “Wow, that set piece routine is absolutely insane,” remarked one City fan on X..
The part Ake played in the goal was probably not appreciated by all Liverpool fans.
“Make no mistake: Nathan Ake blocks Mac Allister!?!?” Endo was recently sent off for obstructing a man, which meant we lost a goal. “Where is the consistency in this league?!” asked one Liverpool fan.
Another player lamented: “Ake pushing Mac Allister out of the way so Stones can score, but it’s only disallowed when it’s one of our players who does that, so…”
Gary Neville, a Sky Sports commentator, proposed that the VAR examine the goal to see whether Ake was offside when he was fouled by Mac Allister.
Once De Bruyne took the corner, replays proved that Ake was not in an offside position, and the goal was given.