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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Matthew Hobkinson

Alan Shearer sends message to Anthony Taylor after Liverpool FC vs Man City controversy

Alan Shearer has said that Anthony Taylor "let so much go" during his refereeing performance for Manchester City's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday

Pep Guardiola's side lost their first game of the Premier League season after a second-half Mohamed Salah goal saw Liverpool claim all three points. Ederson had spectacularly denied the Egyptian earlier in the game with a superb save during a one-on-one, yet there was nothing the City goalkeeper could do the second-time round as the forward calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner in a carbon copy of his first chance.

Phil Foden thought he had scored his seventh league goal of the season to give the Blues the lead earlier in the match. However, a VAR intervention saw Taylor overturn his decision to initially allow the goal to stand, after Erling Haaland was deemed to have fouled Fabinho in the build-up.

ALSO READ: Former referee gives verdict on Man City vs Liverpool FC controversial VAR decisions

Shearer has now had his say on the referee's performance, as he questioned why City's goal was not allowed to stand after Taylor had ignored other potential fouls in a bid to let the game flow.

The former Newcastle man told Premier League Productions: “It was a cracking game: two teams going toe-to-toe, two really exceptional managers and then the crowd at Anfield, who made it even more special. It could have gone either way, Man City did have chances.

"There've not been many times we have said it this season, but Haaland maybe should have had one or two before Liverpool got their goal. It was a great game, especially that second half.

“The referee let so much go, which I thought was a good thing. They are two great sides going into battle and you should be allowed to tackle. You are going to get one or two tackles that go in, but the referee let so much go - right up until he was told ‘no, you might have to go and look at your screen here’.

"Was it enough to give the foul? Possibly, just. I thought there were so many other fouls that he could have given, but he didn’t during the game as well.”

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