Steven Gerrard claims Aston Villa were denied ‘legitimate goal’ in City draw

Philippe Coutinho shoots at goal but just after the referee, Simon Hooper, had blown his whistle, so the effort did not count. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Steven Gerrard insisted Philippe Coutinho was denied a “legitimate goal” that could have earned Aston Villa victory against Manchester City and said the officials conceded they had made an error after he spoke with them after the draw.

The referee, Simon Hooper, blew his whistle just before Coutinho sent a shot from 25 yards in off the underside of the crossbar, shortly after Leon Bailey had equalised, because the assistant referee, Adrian Holmes, had incorrectly flagged for offside. The video assistant referee, Mike Dean, could have reviewed the goal if play had been allowed to continue.