MANCHESTER -- Though he was at pains to emphasize that the two-goal hole Liverpool found themselves in was a fair reflection of the first half, Arne Slot insisted the story of his side's 3-0 hammering at Manchester City could have been rather different if VAR had not overruled Virgil van Dijk's 38th-minute header.

Manchester City thrashed title rivals Liverpool 3-0 in Pep Guardiola's 1000th match as manager today. City's Erling Haaland saw a penalty saved before he nodded home Matheus Nunes’ cross at the Etihad. Virgil van Dijk ’s header was contentiously disallowed before Nico scored and Jeremy Doku curled in a stunner.