Fulham boss Silva says it should be 'impossible' to allow controversial goal

Fulham manager Marco Silva claimed it should have been "impossible" to allow Man City's contentious second goal to stand, wit the game poised at 1-1.

Erling Haaland fired another hat-trick as City maintained their 100 per cent Premier League start with a 5-1 home victory, but the game wasn't without its controversy.

The Cottagers had been holding their own against the treble winners at the Etihad Stadium when City went 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time with a Nathan Ake header.

Fulham argued long and hard that City defender Manuel Akanji, stood in an offside position, had interfered with the ball and impacted goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Despite a VAR review and further lengthy protests, the goal was given and City went on to win comfortably.

"The second half was not at the level that it should be," Silva said. "I tried to tell the players not to lose focus from things that we cannot control but, of course, that moment made a huge impact on them.

"Even all the explanations that we listened to during that period didn't make sense at all.

"What I can say? Everyone that plays football, everyone that has played football, everyone that has some knowledge about football - I'm 100 per cent sure - has to disallow that goal.

"Everyone has to be furious if a goal like that comes against you. For the linesman I believe that it can be difficult but, for the VAR, it is impossible not to disallow that goal. It is a clear offside."

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean speaking on Soccer Saturday:

"I think Marco Silva was being generous when he said the player jumped out of the way. It's actually gone through his legs!

"The goalkeeper can't go straight away because he has to wait and when he does move, it's too late. The player has to be