As Liverpool and Manchester City were engaged in a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon, a plane flying a banner including the words "British to be minority" was flown over the Etihad Stadium.
The game itself was a thriller, and the scoreline was a repeat of the result when the two teams met at Anfield back in October. Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were on target for the hosts, while Diogo Jota scored Liverpool's first equaliser and Sadio Mane levelled things up for a second time in the 46th minute.
However, the banner, spotted by a number of people watching the game, baffled football fans following on social media. What's more, it is not the first time a plane banner has attracted attention during a Premier League match.
"British To Be Minority By 2066" was the wording on the banner, with a photo appearing on Twitter during the first half. "Words fail me" was the verdict from one viewer, while another claimed the message "Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever".
One football fan pointed out that "British is already the minority. There's like 7 billion other people". "2066 is oddly specific," another pointed out.
It comes less than two years after a controversial banner was flown over the same stadium during City's game against Burnley. On that occasion, "White Lives Matter Burnley" was the message displayed.
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Clarets captain Ben Mee was asked about that incident back in 2020, and strongly condemned the act. "I'm ashamed and embarrassed that a small number of our hands have decided to fly that around the stadium," the former Man City defender told Sky Sports at the time.
"They have completed the point. There's a group of lads in there that is embarrassed to see that, they've missed the point of the whole thing we are trying to achieve and these people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves.
"It does not represent what the club is about, what the players are about and what the a majority of the fans are about, that's for sure. It's a small minority of people and I'm really upset that happened."
Back to events on the pitch, and the result at the Etihad means City still have a slight upper hand in the race for the title. They remain a point clear of Liverpool, with both sides having seven more games to play.
Both sides had chances to win the game, with the best perhaps falling City's way. Riyad Mahrez hit the post from a free-kick, and the Algeria star later missed the target in the final minute of stoppage time when given a chance to beat Alisson.
City and Liverpool are due to meet again in the semi-finals of the FA Cup next weekend. However, before then, both teams are back in Champions League action as the quarter-finals conclude.
