Fulham manager Marco Silva claims it should have been “impossible” to allow Manchester City’s controversial second goal to stand in his side’s 5-1 loss to the champions. 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 played at the ball and impacted goalkeeper Bernd Leno. 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. Fulham boss Marco Silva Despite a VAR review and further lengthy protests, the goal was given and City went on to win comfortably with a second-half hat-trick from the prolific Erling Haaland. Silva said: “The second half was not at the level that it should be. 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.” Silva admitted Joao Palhinha had not been in the right frame of mind to play after his proposed deadline day move to Bayern Munich collapsed. Silva said: “It was a tough day for him, definitely, probably one of the toughest days of his life. “He loves Fulham, he loves football, he loves to be with us. He had the fantastic season last season and he’s always a player that gives 100 per cent for the shirt but he had a big chance to go to one of the biggest clubs in the world and he was really close. “You can imagine the impact that has on a football player when these type of things happen.” City were not at their best in the first half and saw their opening goal from Julian Alvarez quickly cancelled out by Tim Ream. Yet after the stormy end to the first half, they moved through the gears after the break with Haaland, scorer of 52 goals last season, coming to the fore. Assistant boss Juanma Lillo, who has won both of his matches in charge since manager Pep Guardiola underwent back surgery, said of the Norway striker: “This guy was born scoring goals and he’ll go through his whole life scoring goals, so it’ll be no surprise if he manages to get those same figures as last time. “But it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t as he’s great at providing play for the players. Today he made one assist and also put a ball through to another player. I’d always look at his intelligence as well as his goalscoring stats.” City midfielder Jack Grealish missed the game with a thigh injury and is now doubtful for England’s upcoming internationals against Ukraine and Scotland. Lillo said: “It would be difficult to be able to make it for the national team but I am not a doctor and it would be difficult for me to explain.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Heather Knight defends team selection after heavy defeat for England Women England expect to be fully fit for World Cup opener after Courtney Lawes fears Steve Cooper: Forest were spurred on at Chelsea by Old Trafford frustration

Luis Arraez broke out of an 0-for-15 slide with a 5-for-5 night that included three RBIs, raising his major league-leading batting average from

Adam McKay and Matthew Perry had discussed the Mattman project about an actor who becomes a superhero

IShowSpeed caused a stir on the Internet during his recent livestream where he allegedly scared an unidentified girl

Mark Seitz, the Roman Catholic bishop of El Paso, Texas, tells The Associated Press that Florida Gov_ Ron DeSantis' flights of migrants from the Texas border to California are “reprehensible” and “not morally acceptable.”

Hundreds of activists are at Atlanta’s City Hall ahead of a council vote over whether to approve tens of millions in public funding for a police and firefighter training center

Members of the Rastafari religion and political movement have for decades been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic use of marijuana

Spain has thrilled its fans and neutrals alike with some scintillating performances en route to a historic Women's World Cup final against England on Sunday.

Monica De Leon Barba, a US citizen who the FBI said was kidnapped in Mexico in November, has been reunited with her family.

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 27, 2023--

NFL Rumors: Russell Wilson gets narrative-changing endorsement from former Broncos teammateDenver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was basically last year's punching bag of the NFL. His steep drop-off in form in 2023 led him to become one of the most ridiculed players in football, complete ...

Nick Saban officially added the son of a former player on his first national championship team as Alabama's head coach.The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban are preparing for the start of the 2023 season, which officially begins on Sept. 2 when they face Middle Tennessee. But t...