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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.

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Naby Keita celebrates scoring with Mohamed Salah during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Huddersfield Town on April 26, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City36302490226892
2Liverpool36287184206491
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs362311265362970
4Chelsea36208860392168
5Arsenal362061069492066
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd36198964511365
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36159124644254
8Leicester CityLeicester36156155147451
9Everton36148145044650
10Watford36148145152-150
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham36137164554-946
12Crystal Palace36127174348-543
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle36119163645-942
14Bournemouth36126185265-1342
15Burnley36117184463-1940
16Southampton36911164461-1738
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3698193355-2235
18Cardiff CityCardiff3694233066-3631
RFulham3675243476-4226
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3635282074-5414

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