The Premier League have issued a statement to clear up why Manchester City defender Marc Guehi was not sent-off against Liverpool.
Guehi returned to the Man City line-up on Sunday after missing their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg win over Newcastle four days prior, and was involved in a flashpoint during the second half.
With the score locked at 0-0, the England international pulled back Mohamed Salah, stopping the Liverpool forward from getting a shot away in the process.
Guehi was shown a yellow card for the challenge as the officials deemed his central defensive partner Ruben Dias - who replaced Abdukodir Khusanov amid concussion protocols - was in a position to cover.
However, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was adamant that Guehi should have been red carded as he denied Salah a clear goalscoring opportunity.
"If l had to talk about one moment, it would be when Salah was on goal and Guehi had his shirt,” Slot told Sky Sports after the game.
"Everyone who’s been in this stadium for the past eight years knows that if Mo Salah comes into that situation, it's a goal.
"So that is definitely a goalscoring opportunity.
"Out of hundred people, we could find 20 people from the PGMOL who would say it wasn't a red card."
The Premier League’s Match Centre have since confirmed that VAR deemed that a yellow card for Guehi was the correct decision as he did not deny Salah an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
“The referee’s call of a free-kick and yellow card to Guehi for the challenge on Salah was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge outside of the area and deemed not to be denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender,” they said in a statement.
While Guehi avoided a red card, the same could not be said for Liverpool’s goalscorer Dominik Szoboszlai during a controversial ending at Anfield.
Szoboszlai was giving his marching orders in stoppage time for denying Erling Haaland an obvious goalscoring opportunity as the pair wrestled while pursuing Rayan Cherki’s effort from range.
Although Cherki’s effort ultimately rolled across the line without a touch from either Szoboszlai or Haaland, the goal was disallowed by VAR for a foul by the Man City striker.
