VAR bottled late penalty call that could yet cost Liverpool the title! Winners & losers as Pep Guard

In Sunday's 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Premier League title race intensified with three teams separated by just one point and 10 games to go. Arsenal, having secured a late win against Brentford, emerged as the front-runners as the competition reaches its climax. 

The clash at Anfield showcased an intense battle, with City taking the lead in the first half through a John Stones set-piece. Liverpool responded strongly in the second half, capitalizing on defensive mistakes from Nathan Ake and Ederson to level the score with an Alexis Mac Allister penalty. The high stakes and close competition make for an exciting conclusion to the Premier League title race.

SUNDAY'S UNFORTUNATE FIGURE: Stuart Attwell

The recent clash saw minimal refereeing controversies, with Michael Oliver maintaining a mostly unintrusive approach, allowing the game to flow while ensuring accurate decisions, including the awarded penalty for Ederson's foul on Darwin Nunez in favor of Liverpool.
Nevertheless, VAR official Stuart Attwell, and to a greater extent, Michael Oliver, could face criticism if Liverpool narrowly misses out on the title by a point or two. This stems from their failure to grant Liverpool a penalty for Jeremy Doku's high boot on Mac Allister during the final minute of stoppage-time.

Jurgen Klopp vehemently argued that the incident should have unquestionably resulted in a penalty, a sentiment that carries weight. The contact made by Doku's studs into Mac Allister's chest, despite making initial contact with the ball, would typically be deemed a foul anywhere else on the field, potentially warranting a yellow card. Notably, both Gary Neville and former referee Mike Dean, during their commentary for Sky Sports, expressed initial concern over Doku's actions when reviewing the replays.

The decision not to review the incident at the VAR screen raises questions about Attwell's willingness to make a crucial call in the context of a potential title-deciding match. The hesitation to intervene at such a pivotal moment may be attributed to a reluctance to disrupt the game's flow, perhaps hidden behind the defense of 'clear and obvious' errors.
While Liverpool could still clinch the title, rendering this incident inconsequential, should they fall just short, the Doku incident is likely to be revisited repeatedly, becoming a focal point of discussion and scrutiny.

Winners (Arsenal)

Last season, Arsenal found themselves pursued in the title race but ultimately overtaken by City. In the current 2023-24 season, they've relished the role reversal as the hunters, patiently waiting for their rivals to stumble, which they now have, while also grappling with each other.

The recent outcome catapults Arsenal back to the top of the table, a position they haven't occupied since Boxing Day, albeit tied on goal difference. Mikel Arteta's squad faced a stern challenge from Brentford on Saturday but secured three crucial points with Kai Havertz's decisive 86th-minute goal.
Arsenal's knack for scoring late goals adds an extra layer of confidence as they navigate this unprecedented three-way title race. Notably, they lead in points earned within the final five minutes of matches.

Their upcoming clash at the Etihad, where they essentially surrendered the title last season, holds significance. This time, bolstered by a stronger squad and apparent mental resilience, Arsenal has observed that City is not invincible anymore. As the race unfolds, a surprising twist could be in store in the coming weeks.

UNDERPERFORMERS: Ederson & Nathan Ake

Maintaining composure and making judicious decisions are paramount when holding a 1-0 lead at Anfield, especially in a match with significant implications for the title race. Unfortunately, two minutes into the second half, both Nathan Ake and Ederson failed in this regard.

Ake, in particular, committed a significant error by initiating danger with a careless back-pass. Ederson, on the other hand, displayed excessive eagerness to reach the loose ball before Nunez, neglecting the option to stand his ground and limit the Uruguayan's shooting angles, especially since no other Liverpool players were in close proximity. The outcome was an injury for Ederson due to the collision, although his replacement, Stefan Ortega, commendably filled in for the remainder of the game. Fortunately, Ederson will have three weeks to recover before the next league match against Arsenal, with Ortega set to face Newcastle in the FA Cup next week.

As for Ake, his lapse in judgment may open the door for strong competition from the returning Josko Gvardiol. This significant error could lead to Guardiola opting for the Croatian defender in City's upcoming crucial fixtures.

Liverpool Players rating

Goalkeeper & Defensive Performance Evaluation

Caoimhin Kelleher (7/10):

Successfully thwarted City's attempts from long range but conceded from close proximity for the opening goal.

Conor Bradley (7/10):

Displayed signs of his youth with a somewhat erratic start, characterized by heavy touches and questionable movement. However, he settled in and proved to be an asset defensively and in contributing to the build-up play.

Jarell Quansah (7/10):

Limited giveaways in defense and demonstrated decent game reading skills. However, most of his passes tended to be conservative, often directed backward.

Virgil van Dijk (8/10):

Exhibited strong leadership qualities and served as a defensive stalwart with crucial clearances and well-timed tackles.

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Encountered challenges on the left side, with City consistently finding a way past him. It was a difficult outing for Gomez in the defensive line.

Midfield Performance Assessment

Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10):

Displaying a somewhat lax defensive approach, Szoboszlai contributed with penetrative runs to exploit openings in the City defense before being substituted at the hour mark.

Wataru Endo (7/10):

Demonstrated a tenacious effort in ball-winning and facilitated the team's momentum with swift passes from the midfield.

Alexis Mac Allister (8/10):

Delivered an outstanding performance, actively engaging in battles for possession and distributing rapid passes to break through City's defense. Notably, Mac Allister executed his duties excellently, including converting a penalty with precision.

Forward Line Performance Evaluation

Harvey Elliott (4/10):

Demonstrated immense energy, constantly tracking the ball across the field. However, his efforts were somewhat ineffective as the ball often eluded him.

Darwin Nunez (6/10):

Struggled with ball retention, frequently caught offside, and failed to track Stones for the opening goal. Despite these issues, he earned a penalty and showed improvement in the second half.

Luis Diaz (5/10):

Embarked on promising runs but struggled against the formidable City defense, often taking too much time on the ball. Additionally, his finishing was subpar, contributing to a less impactful offensive performance.

Subs & Manager

Mohamed Salah (6/10):

Entered the game at the 60-minute mark, providing a notable assist to Diaz shortly after. Revitalized Liverpool's offensive efforts with some shots on goal.

Andy Robertson (6/10):

Delivered threatening crosses from the left wing, yet Nunez was unable to capitalize on the opportunities.

Cody Gakpo (5/10):

Joined the action in the final 15 minutes but struggled to make a significant impact.

Jurgen Klopp (7/10):

Despite a shaky start, Klopp's team regained control of the game. However, they were unable to convert numerous promising attacks into goals during the last 45 minutes.