'I'm not sure it's appropriate': Michael Owen astonished by VAR response to hair pull in Premier League game

Liverpool legend Michael Owen was left perplexed after Kenny Tete got away scot-free with a blatant hair pull on Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League.

Fulham's Tete yanked the Manchester City star's long locks while defending a corner kick just before half time and video assistant referee Paul Tierney took a look at the incident.

Replays appeared conclusive but the decision was to play on at Etihad Stadium.

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Hair pulling has been an issue in the league this season and Everton's Michael Keane was sent off in January after pulling the hair of Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare.

"I don't see why that's any different," Owen said on Stan Sport's coverage.

"I think it's a red card. You can see. It's there. It's a hair pull.

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"I'm not sure it's appropriate to give a red card - but they are the rules and there have been people sent off in recent times for hair pulls."

The decision did not cost City, who coasted to a 3-0 win on Thursday (AEDT).

Pep Guardiola's second-placed side have kept the pressure on Arsenal, who lead City by three points and take on Brentford away on Friday (AEDT).

Semenyo, Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland were City's goal scorers.

Fulham remain in 12th place with 34 points from 26 matches.

City netted all their goals in the first half as Semenyo profited from a defensive error to open his team's account, before his assist allowed O'Reilly to add his name to the scoresheet.

Haaland added a third to extend his lead in the golden boot race with a 22nd goal of the season as City threatened to run riot before a tepid second half in which each side hadjust one shot on target.

It was vintage City in the opening period as they created chance after chance and were full value for their healthy lead, before retreating into their shell after the break, though they were never in danger of surrendering the advantage.

They took the lead in the 24th minute as Semenyo netted his fifth goal in eight games since joining the club from Bournemouth in January.

A cross from the right was inadvertently directed back towards his own goal by Fulham midfielder Sander Berge and Semenyo was able to poke the ball into the net from close range.

Harry Wilson tested City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the home goal in a rare Fulham attack following a quick break, but it was 2-0 a minute later.

A flowing City move saw Semenyo slip the ball behind the Fulham defence and O'Reilly lifted the ball over visiting goalkeeper Bernd Leno with a neat finish.

City kept coming and it was 3-0 on 39 minutes as a clinical strike from Haaland completed an excellent half.

The striker picked up the ball on the edge of the box and drilled a shot low into the bottom right corner of the net.

Aston Villa also stayed in the title frame with a late 1-0 victory at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Villa's slender title chances appeared to be ebbing away but they secured the points when Brighton's Jack Hinshelwood scored an own goal after 86 minutes.

Brighton midfielder James Milner, 40, came off the bench for his 653rd top flight appearance, equalling Gareth Barry's record.

Liverpool became the first side to defeat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this season with a 1-0 victory thanks to captain Virgil van Dijk's second half goal.

The Reds moved just two points behind Chelsea in fifth spot with the win.

Nottingham Forest had a remarkable 35 goal attempts against Wolves at the City Ground but none of them found the back of the net as Sean Dyche's side dropped two important points.

The draw left them in 17th place, only three points above third-from-bottom West Ham United.

Wolves have nine points but are now only two points behind the lowest-ever Premier League total - Derby County's 11 in the 2007-08 season.

Burnley ended a 16-game winless streak in remarkable fashion with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace were cruising after two goals by new signing Jorgen Strand Larsen inside the opening 35 minutes.

Burnley had not registered a shot on target in the opening 39 minutes but bizarrely were ahead by halftime.

Hannibal Mejbri halved the deficit with a sweetly struck shot and Jaidon Anthony then drove a low shot inside the post to equalise.

Burnley then went ahead in first-half stoppage time as Palace keeper Dean Henderson parried a shot but the ball trickled in off the foot of his team mate Jefferson Lerma.

Palace could not respond after the break as Burnley got their first league win since October, although they are still nine points behind Forest.