Manchester City's 2-1 victory at Anfield sparked fresh debate after VAR disallowed Rayan Cherki's late equalizer for Liverpool. The controversial call came in the 89th minute when officials ruled an offside in the buildup, leaving pundits divided on whether the decision reflected technical accuracy or damaged the game's spirit.

Wayne Rooney called the ruling "anti-football" during BBC Sport's analysis, arguing marginal offside calls undermine dramatic moments. Fellow pundit Kae Kurd noted the Premier League title race implications, with City now closing the gap on league leaders Arsenal. The win marked City's first at Anfield since 2003.

Analyst Dale Johnson explained the VAR team used semi-automated offside technology to detect a Liverpool player's toe beyond the defensive line. However, critics questioned whether such millimeter decisions align with football's tradition of favoring attackers in close calls. The incident follows growing scrutiny of VAR's impact on game flow this season.

With three points separating the top three teams, the decision could prove pivotal in one of the closest title races in years. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp declined to criticize officials post-match but emphasized the need for consistency in key decisions.

Quick Fact: Manchester City hadn't won at Anfield in 21 years before this victory.