Liverpool v Man City LIVE thriller: Anfield chaos, title race on a knife-edge
10.02.2026 - 03:04:16Football results today: Anfield steals the spotlight
In the headline clash, Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City summed up everything this title race is about: power, panic, and zero chill.
City drew first blood. In the 19th minute, Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does â one touch to roll Virgil van Dijk off his shoulder, another to smash low past Alisson into the far corner. Cold-blooded finish, 0-1, and Anfield went dead silent for half a second.
Liverpool punched back right before the break. On 42 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold zipped a diagonal into the box, Darwin NĂșñez out-jumped RĂșben Dias to nod it down, and there was Mohamed Salah pouncing from six yards, sweeping it past Ederson for 1-1. That was Salah's statement: still the man for the biggest nights.
Second-half madness: worldies, flops, and VAR rage
After the break, the tempo went nuts. City retook the lead on 58 minutes when Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy reverse pass into Phil Foden. Foden cut inside Andy Robertson and whipped a curler into the top corner. Alisson got fingertips, but no chance. 1-2, and City players sprinted to the away end like it was a cup final.
But Liverpool refused to die. On 77 minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai drove through midfield, fed NĂșñez, who laid it off first time for Luis DĂaz. The Colombian chopped inside Kyle Walker and drilled low across Ederson into the far corner. 2-2 and Anfield absolutely exploded.
The biggest drama? The 89th-minute VAR call that everyone is screaming about. A looping corner dropped into the City box, NĂșñez went up with Ederson, the ball spilled, and Virgil van Dijk slammed it into the net. Anfield thought it was 3-2. The referee initially gave the goal, but VAR dragged him to the monitor.
After a long, painful review, the goal was ruled out for a foul by NĂșñez on Ederson. On the replays, there was contact, but City fans call it clear obstruction while Liverpool fans are convinced it's just normal challenge territory. The final whistle blew with JĂŒrgen Klopp raging on the touchline and Pep Guardiola sprinting down the tunnel.
Stars under the spotlight: heroes and nearly-men
- Erling Haaland â One ruthless goal, nonstop menace, but he'll be annoyed he didn't bag a second after dragging a late chance wide. Still, he did his job.
- Mohamed Salah â Sharp, hungry, and clinical with his finish. He terrorised City's right side, but faded slightly late on. Heroic output in a huge fixture.
- Kevin De Bruyne â That assist for Foden was pure art. Controlled City's tempo but also lost the ball in a dangerous area that almost led to a Liverpool breakaway.
- Phil Foden â Big-game player now, no debate. His goal was a worldie, and every time he picked the ball up, Liverpool looked nervous.
- Darwin NĂșñez â Chaotic energy as always. Got an assist for Salah, pressed like a lunatic, but that soft nudge on Ederson for the disallowed goal might haunt him.
Title race twist: every point is gold
This 2-2 draw means the gap at the top stays razor-thin. City had the chance to create breathing space; instead, they keep Liverpool right on their heels. Liverpool will feel robbed after the late VAR drama, but the point keeps them in the fight and keeps the pressure absolutely suffocating at the summit.
Over in North London, the ripple effects were felt too. Arsenal 3-1 Newcastle United earlier in the day kept Mikel Arteta's side in the frame. Goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Martin Ădegaard overpowered a late consolation from Alexander Isak. Saka, in particular, was electric â one goal, one assist, and Newcastle's full-back still probably checking his studs.
So what does all that do to the football league table picture right now? The top three are bunched together, every dropped point feels like a disaster, and goal difference might end up deciding everything.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Champions League news & European context
With the Champions League knockout stages looming, this kind of high-intensity showdown is exactly the tune-up Liverpool and City didn't really want but absolutely needed. Haaland looks primed to bully European defences again, while Salah is playing like a man who still wants one more deep run in Europe.
The concern? Legs and minds. You could see late in the game that both sides were running on fumes. Sloppy passes, tired fouls, and managers screaming for one last sprint. If they keep this pace every weekend and midweek, injuries will become the next big storyline.
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My take: this rivalry is pure addiction
From a young reporter's eye, this LiverpoolâCity era is flat-out addictive. In my opinion, no other fixture in world football right now guarantees intensity like this. Every duel feels personal, every goal feels season-defining, and every refereeing decision becomes a week-long debate.
For me, Klopp might regret not rolling the dice even earlier with fresh legs. When City wobbled around the 70th minute, that was the moment to go all-in. On the flip side, Guardiola will secretly be relieved â his side were hanging on at the end, and a point at Anfield is never a disaster.
Player of the night? I'm giving it to Phil Foden. Haaland and Salah hit the net, sure, but Foden's touch, vision, and that ice-cold finish screamed world-class. If this is the level he keeps, he's not just City's future; he's their present.
Closing whistle: the title race just got even crazier
So if you came looking for football results today, you ended up walking into a full-blown title drama. Liverpool and City share the points, Arsenal keep breathing down both their necks, and somewhere in a tactics room right now, managers are already planning the next twist in this insane season.
Don't just stare at the scorelines â the real story is in how tight that table is and how brutal the run-in is going to be.
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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