‘Absolute rubbish’ – Neil Warnock phones talkSPORT to hammer VAR after Liverpool vs Man City controversy

Neil Warnock was left furious at VAR and Craig Pawson’s decision to disallow Man City’s third goal against Liverpool.

The Citizens ran out 2-1 winners in a thrilling clash that ended in chaos, as Rayan Cherki thought he had added a late third, only for it to be chalked off and Dominik Szoboszlai shown a red card.

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After Szoboszlai put the Reds in front with a stunning free-kick, City fought back through Bernardo Silva and a stoppage time penalty from Erling Haaland.

What happened at the end of Liverpool vs Man City?

Chasing an equaliser in the dying moments, Liverpool piled men forward – including goalkeeper Alisson.

With the Brazilian out of his goal, Cherki pounced on a loose ball and went for goal from the halfway line.

This sparked a huge footrace between Haaland and Szoboszlai, with the former seen pulling back the latter’s shirt as the ball rolled towards the net.

Referee Pawson signalled advantage, but Haaland then tugged Szoboszlai’s shirt after being overtaken by the midfielder.

The ball ended up in the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations.

After a VAR check referee Pawson decided Haaland had been denied a goalscoring opportunity so ruled out the goal, awarded a free-kick 30 yards out and sent off Szoboszlai.

Announcing his decision on field, Pawson said: “After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominic Szoboszlai. Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offence that denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The final decision is a direct free kick to Manchester City and a red card.”

‘They don’t know the game’

Pawson’s late call proved hugely controversial, with many criticising the decision to cancel out a dramatic end to a thrilling contest.

With former Premier League referee Chris Foy explaining on talkSPORT that Pawson had to ignore the emotion of the game, this prompted an incredulous response from legendary manager Warnock.

Phoning into Monday’s Breakfast Show, he began: “I remember Bill Shankly saying: ‘They [referees] know the laws, but they don’t know the game’ – and nothing has changed in all these years.

“I listen to Chris [Foy], and Chris is a lovely bloke, but he’s one of them.

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“[On referees] They know the rules, they know it inside out, they know what should be happening.

“But they haven’t got any idea about common sense, and they all think: ‘If we don’t give this then we’ll lose some marks’, and it’s a load of absolute rubbish.”

Continuing his furious tirade, Warnock blasted the standard of officiating in the Premier League, as he revealed his personal history with Pawson.

The 77-year-old fumed: “I’ve never heard anything like it. Craig Pawson – I remember at Cardiff him costing me two points against Chelsea. two yards offside, so I wanted VAR.

“But the way that they’re using VAR now  – John Brooks, oh my goodness me. 

“I look at some of these referees. I didn’t think they were good enough for the Championship. They’re all in the top flight now. 

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“It worries me that we’re not getting better referees that understand the game as well.”

Warnock: Howard Webb wouldn’t be impressed

Warnock then went as far as claiming that PGMOL chief Howard Webb wouldn’t have been impressed with Pawson’s call.

The iconic manager went on: “I bet you Howard Webb cringed, and he knows that he’s going to come on and he’s going to say: ‘As far as rules of the game concern this is what should have happened, they followed the right criteria’, and all that bull, and yet they still don’t grasp it. 

“We’ve still got referees doing the VAR that aren’t any better than the referees. They don’t have any emotion. 

“They don’t understand the game, they just know the laws. They all know the laws inside [out]. They go to bed with a book of laws, I would think, and read them up.”

Rounding off his rant, Warnock suggested that lengthy VAR calls are making the Premier League are much less enjoyable spectacle.

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He told host Jeff Stelling: “ I think you said it Jeff – are you enjoying the Premiership? Now I’m not.

“I thought last night’s game was fantastic and I think if that goal had been given in the end it would have ended a great game. 

“Liverpool have got their player for the next game – what can you say? You don’t get too many games like that.

“Now everything’s talking about VAR. We all wanted it, but it’s killing it. 

“Imagine now as a manager. I must have had the best time in my life at managing – you score a goal, you jump up, you celebrate and then you all look round and wait 5 minutes to see if it counts. I don’t think you were brought in for that.”