MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 12:51:45| >> :60:3351:3351:

Manchester City - the role technology has played this season

Manchester City - the role technology has played this season
© Reuters
Sergio Aguero's match-winning goal against Burnley was ruled to have crossed the line by millimetres.

Manchester City were thankful to goalline technology as they secured a vital win at Burnley on Sunday.

Sergio Aguero's 63rd-minute goal was not the first time hi-tech equipment has played a hand in City's season.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at examples of where technology has shaped City's remarkable campaign.

Sergio Aguero v Burnley, Premier League, April 28

Sunday's narrow 1-0 victory took City back to the top of the Premier League with just two games remaining. City knew anything less than three points would hand the initiative in the title race back to Liverpool. The win was secured by a tiny margin, with Aguero's scrambled goal on a tense afternoon at Turf Moor ruled to have crossed the line by a mere 29.51mm.

John Stones v Liverpool, Premier League, January 3

The margins were even tighter when City hosted Liverpool in a crunch clash early in the new year. Pep Guardiola's men prevailed 2-1 in a nervy encounter at the Etihad Stadium but Liverpool could count themselves unlucky after John Stones produced a dramatic goalline clearance to prevent an own goal. The information from the goal decision system showed that the ball had failed to cross the line by just 11.2mm.

Raheem Sterling v Tottenham, Champions League, April 17

Raheem Sterling's dramatic late strike against Spurs was ruled out
Raheem Sterling's dramatic late strike against Spurs was ruled out (Martin Rickett/PA)

The use of VAR was instrumental in ending City's bid for a quadruple. Sterling thought he had settled a compelling quarter-final tie with what would have been his hat-trick goal in the dramatic closing minutes of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Yet as City celebrated wildly and Spurs players slumped to the ground, the big screen indicated a review was being carried out. After a delay it was eventually determined Aguero had strayed offside in the build-up. The party was quickly deflated.

Fernando Llorente v Tottenham, Champions League, April 17

VAR had a big influence on the quarter-final against Spurs
VAR had a big influence on the quarter-final against Spurs (Mike Egerton/PA)

The ruling out of Sterling's late strike meant that Llorente's earlier effort, which made the score 4-4 on aggregate and gave Spurs the edge on away goals, proved decisive. This goal also required much review after the ball appeared to brush the Spaniard's arm before bouncing into the goal off his hip. Although debate continued over whether the VAR reviewed the best angles, Llorente was eventually given the benefit of the doubt and the goal stood.

Other incidents:

City were grateful for a lack of VAR at Swansea
City were grateful for a lack of VAR at Swansea (Nick Potts/PA)

There have also been some other incidents which ultimately did not prove pivotal. City were controversially awarded a penalty for handball in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Spurs only for Aguero to miss while Schalke were also given a debatable spot-kick in the first leg of the ultimately one-sided last-16 tie. Meanwhile, the lack of VAR probably helped City in their 3-2 FA Cup quarter-final win at Swansea. There was debate over the penalty which allowed City to equalise and replays showed Aguero was offside before heading the winner.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Hampson, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '8c6a1188-6534-46a7-befa-0ae0db29c8e0');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'How technology has helped shape Manchester City\u2019s remarkable season'});

ID:357682: cacheID:357682:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9876:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Naby Keita celebrates scoring with Mohamed Salah during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Huddersfield Town on April 26, 2019
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Salah, Mane, Van Dijk
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!