In a match that had everything—late goals, defensive chaos, and VAR drama—Everton and Manchester City played out a 3-3 thriller that left fans and pundits debating one of the most bizarre goals of the season. At the center of it all was Everton striker Thierno Barry, who scored after benefiting from a shocking back pass by City defender Marc Guehi—while clearly in an offside position. How did that goal stand? Let's break it down.

The controversy unfolded when Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl played a through ball toward Barry, who was lurking on Guehi's shoulder. The pass was poorly executed, rolling straight to Guehi. Instead of clearing it, Guehi inexplicably under-hit a back pass, allowing Barry to pounce and score. The assistant referee initially raised his flag for offside, but referee Michael Oliver overruled him, letting the goal stand.

According to the laws of the game, the key question is whether Barry's offside position influenced Guehi's actions. Did Barry pressure Guehi into making a mistake? Replays showed Barry moving toward the ball, but he wasn't close enough to force the error. Guehi had full control of the situation—and simply made a catastrophic decision. As former Premier League defender Andy Hinchcliffe noted on Sky Sports, "Barry is in an offside position when the ball is played, but it's down to Guehi. He is in control of his actions, so suddenly the attacker goes from offside to onside. That is why the goal rightly stands."

But the drama didn't stop there. Everton boss David Moyes was left fuming after his side was denied a late penalty when Bernardo Silva appeared to drag down Merlin Rohl inside the box. VAR official Paul Howard chose not to intervene, leaving the call to referee Oliver, who waved play on. Moyes admitted he was "amazed" the spot kick wasn't given.

And there was also a potential red card incident involving Everton defender Michael Keane, who flew into a challenge on City's Jeremy Doku. Again, VAR stayed out of it, leaving the on-field decision to stand. Keane escaped with just a yellow card.

For fans of the beautiful game, this match was a reminder of how fine the margins can be—and how one moment of madness can change everything. Whether you agree with the decisions or not, it's moments like these that make football so unpredictable. And if you're looking to gear up like your favorite stars, check out our latest collection of jerseys and training kits to wear your passion on your sleeve.