Haaland hat-trick & late drama light up Premier League title race live
25.01.2026 - 19:50:47
The headline story: at the Etihad, Manchester City stormed back to beat Liverpool 4-2 in a Premier League classic that felt more like a Champions League knockout tie. Erling Haaland went full cheat code with a ruthless hat-trick, while Mohamed Salah dropped a captain’s performance with a brace of his own. This wasn’t just a game – it was a statement in neon lights.
Premier League live chaos: City 4-2 Liverpool – Haaland vs Salah show
From the first whistle, you could feel this was going to be one of those nights. City tried to dominate the ball, Liverpool pressed like their lives depended on it, and the Etihad crowd sounded like a Champions League semi.
11' – Liverpool struck first. A slick move down the right saw Trent Alexander-Arnold slip a pass into the half-space for Dominik Szoboszlai, who drilled a low cross into the box. City half-cleared, but the ball dropped to Mohamed Salah on the edge of the area. One touch to set, then a curling left-foot finish into the far corner. City 0-1 Liverpool. That’s Salah: ice-cold, no backlift, just precision.
25' – City answered like champions. Kevin De Bruyne, back doing Kevin De Bruyne things, drifted into the right half-space and whipped in an outrageous early cross. Erling Haaland shrugged off his marker and powered a header past the keeper. 1-1. Classic combination: KDB delivery, Haaland brutality.
39' – Then came the first big flashpoint. Haaland burst into the box, tangled with Virgil van Dijk, went down, and the ref pointed straight to the spot. VAR took a long look – replays showed slight contact, Haaland definitely made the most of it. The decision stood, Liverpool players were fuming. Up stepped Haaland, smashed it low to the keeper’s right. City 2-1 Liverpool, and the Etihad erupted while X (Twitter) exploded with rage about the penalty.
54' – Liverpool refused to die. A quick throw-in caught City napping, Alexis Mac Allister slid a smart pass between the lines, and Salah ghosted into space. One-on-one, he dinked it coolly over the onrushing keeper. 2-2. Vintage big-game Mo – quiet for five minutes then bang, he’s changed the script again.
71' – City’s third was pure monster-mode Haaland. De Bruyne picked it up centrally, played a disguised reverse ball through the gap, and Haaland bullied his way between two defenders before drilling a low finish into the bottom corner. City 3-2 Liverpool. That’s a striker who smells blood.
88' – The killer. Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, left space in behind, and City countered like a track team. De Bruyne drove forward, slid it wide to Phil Foden, whose shot was parried straight into danger. Guess who reacted first? Haaland, of course. Simple tap-in, hat-trick complete. City 4-2 Liverpool, game over, message sent.
Heroes & flops: who owned the night?
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – Absolute monster. Hat-trick hero, bullying centre-backs, winning the penalty, constantly available as an outlet. This is the version of Haaland that wins titles on his own.
- Kevin De Bruyne – The puppet master. Two assists, could’ve had more, dictated the tempo when the game got stretched. Every time he picked up the ball, Liverpool looked terrified.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Defiant superstar. Two classy goals, carried Liverpool’s attacking threat. Even in defeat, he looked like the guy who refuses to let his team fade out of the title picture.
- Virgil van Dijk – Tough night. Still made some big interventions, but losing the penalty call and getting dragged into Haaland’s physical duel will sting. Social media is split on whether the pen was soft or a clear foul.
In terms of football results today, this one feels bigger than three points. City didn’t just beat Liverpool – they flexed, hard, right in the middle of the title race.
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham and Mbappé keep the spotlight
While England was losing its mind over Haaland, continental giants were doing their thing.
La Liga: Real Madrid edge gritty win as Bellingham delivers again
Real Madrid 2-1 Real Betis – It wasn’t pretty, but it was absolutely clutch. Jude Bellingham once again decided he’d rather be the main character than a supporting actor.
18' – Madrid went ahead when VinĂcius JĂşnior danced inside from the left and clipped a cross to the back post. Rodrygo met it with a thumping header. 1-0 Madrid.
57' – Betis hit back through a scrappy goal from Willian José, pouncing in the box after Madrid failed to clear a corner. 1-1, and suddenly the Bernabéu got nervous.
79' – Enter Bellingham. A loose ball on the edge of the area fell his way, and with that trademark late run, he smashed a low shot through a crowd of players into the bottom corner. 2-1 Madrid. Arms out, chest up, the whole stadium roaring his name. Once again: hero mode activated.
Ligue 1: Mbappé brace keeps PSG in control
PSG 3-0 Lyon – When Kylian Mbappé decides the script, everyone else just plays along.
He opened the scoring with a trademark burst in behind and a ruthless low finish, then added a second with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Ousmane Dembélé chipped in with a third after a slick one-two around the box. Mbappé looked sharp, hungry, and completely unplayable – the kind of performance that reminds everyone why Champions League defences have nightmares about him.
Title race context: how big was City vs Liverpool?
This win puts City back in the driver’s seat. With three points snatched against their direct rivals, they’ve opened up a vital gap at the top and thrown serious pressure on everyone else.
City's surge, Liverpool's stumble: City now pull clear, while Liverpool risk getting dragged into a scrap for second if they don't respond fast next weekend. Goal difference swings, momentum shifts, and the psychological blow of losing a six-goal thriller like this could linger.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight: penalty fury & Haaland obsession
The big online talking point is that penalty incident between Haaland and van Dijk. Was it a soft call? Did Haaland initiate the contact? Should VAR have overturned it? Timelines are split right down the middle.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging and debating non-stop over that Haaland penalty vs van Dijk
My take: this felt like a title swing
In my opinion, this was one of those nights that decides seasons. City didn’t just show they’re technically better – they showed they’re mentally tougher. Every time Liverpool punched, City punched harder. Haaland played like a man who’s sick of hearing about anyone else in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Liverpool, though, can’t be written off. Salah looks as sharp as ever, and they still carved City open more than most teams manage at the Etihad. But defensively, the cracks were loud tonight. The high line, the physical duel with Haaland, the space for De Bruyne – if they don’t tighten up, they’re going to leak crucial points in matches exactly like this.
Across Europe, Bellingham and Mbappé just quietly did superstar things again – clutch goals, big moments, business as usual. If this is a preview of the next Champions League knockout phase, we’re talking about a generation-defining era of attacking talent all peaking at the same time.
Closing whistle: don’t blink, the season’s catching fire
So, that’s your snapshot of the biggest football results today: Haaland hat-trick, Salah defiant in defeat, Bellingham clutch, Mbappé ruthless. Title races shifting, narratives flipping, and VAR still somehow the main character online.
Want to see exactly how those three points changed everything? Check the live table, refresh it, stare at it, and imagine what next weekend’s going to look like.
Check full stats & standings now
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