VAR controversy in Man City vs Liverpool divides pundits - 'Contact is minimal'

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"After review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Manchester City," posted the Premier League Match Centre account on X. Kavanagh explained to the crowd: "After review, the goalkeeper commits a foul challenge on the attacker, the final decision is penalty." Kavanagh's decision divided the pundits covering the game for the BBC.

Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder, said to Match of the Day: "There's not enough contact from the keeper for me." Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Erling Haaland's penalty (Image: Getty Images) But Dion Dublin, the former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The contact is minimal, but Doku's fall isn't a false fall. City fans around us think it was a penalty." Ex-referee Mike Dean told the same channel before Kavanagh changed his mind: "It is knee on boot...

I think he will award a penalty." In the end, Kavanagh's decision meant little thanks to Mamardashvili's heroics. It is probably on his water bottle!" Neville noted: "Brilliant anticipation from the goalkeeper." Haaland quickly made up for his missed penalty by finding the back of the net in the 29th minute, giving City a 1-0 lead.