“I feel bad for him” – Dominik Szoboszlai receives Manchester City messages of support after Liverpool red card

Both Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola have issued words of support for Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai after his red card against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

City’s win was decided in dramatic fashion in stoppage time, with a late penalty sealing three points to keep the Premier League title race alive. However, much of the post-match discussion centred on chaotic closing moments as a goal was ruled out and Szoboszlai dismissed.

For long periods, Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession without finding a breakthrough, while Liverpool threatened sporadically. But a stunning free-kick from Szoboszlai eventually put the hosts ahead, leaving City with a mountain to climb in the final quarter of the contest.

Bernardo Silva’s late equaliser reignited hope before Erling Haaland converted from the spot in added time to complete the comeback to ensure City stay within six points of league leaders Arsenal, following on from a recent surge to the Carabao Cup Final.

But speaking to Sky Sports after the contest at Anfield, Erling Haaland said of the incident that resulted in both a disallowed goal for Rayan Cherki and a straight red card for Dominik Szoboszlai, “For me, of course, the referee has to follow the rules.

“But in the end, I feel bad for him [Szoboszlai] because he gets three games [ban] – just give the goal, don’t give the red card. Simple as that. But I think it’s the rules, it’s just how it is… In the end, Cherki, just pass me the ball so I can score. But he didn’t want to, so that’s just how it is.”

City had the ball in the net through Cherki’s finish from inside his own half, only for a VAR check seeing Szoboszlai sent off in the 13th minute of added time for fouling Haaland before the ball rolled in – and a free-kick awarded to City instead.

Offering his thoughts during a post-match press conference, Pep Guardiola admitted, “Common sense, no? We won the game, and now Szoboszlai cannot play – I know he pulled him [Erling Haaland]. But…

“How many pulls there are in a game that referees say, ‘Play on, play on, play on’, in this country, this league. Always it’s been like that. So give a goal, 1-3, Szoboszlai can play, and we are happy.”

The sending-off means Liverpool will now be without one of their key midfielders for the coming fixtures, potentially impacting their own push for UEFA Champions League qualification in the closing stages of the campaign.

For Manchester City, meanwhile, the focus quickly shifts back to maintaining momentum after a result that club captain Bernardo Silva himself admitted was crucial to keeping the title race alive.

Pep Guardiola’s side now face a demanding run across competitions, with the Carabao Cup Final against Arsenal looming in March and the Premier League gap still at six points as the Sky Blues prepare to welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The dramatic scenes at Anfield may prove a turning point psychologically, but consistency – something Pep Guardiola has already warned about – will likely determine whether Manchester City can truly sustain a challenge on multiple fronts.