Watch: Liverpool vs Manchester City explodes into life – but should Phil Foden's goal have counted?

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Liverpool vs Manchester City burst into life with a Phil Foden goal disallowed by VAR – but should it have counted?

Liverpool vs Manchester City: Phil Foden of Manchester City takes the ball to the corner flag during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 16, 2022 in Liverpool, England.
(Image credit: Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool vs Manchester City was always going to be dramatic but Phil Foden hoped it wouldn't be quite so controversial.

The Stockport Iniesta had a goal disallowed in the second half, with Jurgen Klopp's players all crowding around the referee, incensed that the strike was originally allowed to stand after two contentious points in the build-up.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, was raging up and down the touchline, screaming at Anthony Taylor over the decision.

Liverpool vs Manchester City: Phil Foden's disallowed goal

Erling Haaland and Fabinho tussled on the ball before Kevin De Bruyne set Erling Haaland free. Alisson dived on the ball and seemed to get two hands on it.

Haaland managed to kick the ball from under the Brazilian's grasp and out, however. That left Foden with an opportunity to smack the ball in off Joe Gomez and wheel away in celebration. Immediately, the Reds crowded the ref.

Taylor chalked off the goal after going to the monitor – but not for Haaland's challenge on Alisson.

The laws of the game say that if the goalkeeper has two hands on the ball and under his control, you cannot take the ball from out of their grasp. But the problem was with the Norwegian's shirt pull on Fabinho. Haaland was deemed to have fouled the midfielder, with the goal disallowed. 

We came very close to another Guardiola "twice" moment… and people say VAR is a bad thing!?

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.