Liverpool vs Man City thriller live: Salah & Haaland light up title race

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-01-25, the pitch is on fire... Did you see that Liverpool vs Manchester City clash at Anfield? These soccer games are exactly why you don't dare blink. Goals from Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and a dramatic late winner turned the Premier League title race into absolute chaos, and the noise online is going insane.

Premier League Fireworks: Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City

This one had everything – world-class finishers, tactical chess, and the kind of drama that makes you fall in love with football all over again.

Manchester City drew first blood. After a slick passing move down the right, Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy through ball into space and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. One touch out of his feet, second touch low and ruthless into the bottom corner. 0-1, City, and Anfield stunned.

Liverpool’s response was pure chaos and courage. Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged a diagonal to Luis Díaz, who skinned his man and cut it back across the box. Mohamed Salah arrived at the near post and flicked it past Ederson with that trademark ice-cold finish. 1-1 and suddenly the whole stadium was vibrating.

Right before half-time, Liverpool flipped the script. From a corner worked short, Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a wicked cross and Virgil van Dijk bullied everyone in the air, thundering a header into the top corner. 2-1 Liverpool, the captain roaring, City defenders looking at each other like, "Who picks him up?!"

Second half, Pep went full attack mode. He pushed De Bruyne higher, and it paid off. In the 68th minute, a quick one-two between Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden sliced open Liverpool’s midfield. Foden slid the ball across and Haaland again popped up in the box, this time cutting inside and drilling a left-foot strike that took a slight deflection on its way past Alisson. Haaland's second of the night, 2-2, and he did his trademark meditation celebration right in front of the Kop. Spicy.

But the biggest moment was still to come. On 88 minutes, with both teams going end-to-end, Liverpool launched one last wave. Cody Gakpo drove at the defence and slipped in Salah on the right. Salah shaped to shoot, dragged it back, and rolled it square where substitute Darwin Núñez had peeled off his man. One swing of the right boot, ball rifled into the roof of the net. 3-2. Anfield exploded. Núñez into the crowd, Klopp sprinting down the touchline. Absolute scenes.

Stars: Heroes & Flops

• Mohamed Salah: Goal, assist, and nonstop menace. His movement between the lines shredded City’s back line. Big-game player, big-game performance.
• Erling Haaland: Two goals, both ruthless. He did his job, simple as that. But will still feel frustrated walking off on the losing side.
• Kevin De Bruyne: One gorgeous assist for Haaland’s opener, but faded late as Liverpool’s press tightened. Not a flop, but not fully in boss-mode either.
• Virgil van Dijk: Monster at both ends – that towering header and several clutch blocks on Haaland in the second half. Vintage boss performance.

VAR Drama & Controversy

The hot talking point? A massive VAR call in the 75th minute. City thought they had a penalty when Haaland went down tussling with Ibrahima Konaté. The ref initially pointed to the spot, but after a long VAR review, the decision was overturned for an earlier pull by Haaland in the build-up. Cue Guardiola losing his mind on the touchline and City fans melting down online. Liverpool fans calling it justice; City fans calling it daylight robbery. Classic Premier League chaos.

Title Race Shake-Up

That Liverpool win doesn’t just feel big – it is big in the table. City drop crucial points, while Liverpool leapfrog them and crank up the pressure at the top. With Arsenal lurking and the fixtures coming thick and fast, this result could be one we look back on in May as a turning point.

Right now, the gap between first and third is razor-thin, and goal difference is suddenly a massive deal. Liverpool’s forwards firing and City's back line wobbling makes this run-in absolutely wild.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League Contenders Send a Message

Across the continent, the big hitters kept the pressure up in their own soccer games.

In Spain, Real Madrid edged a gritty away win with Jude Bellingham once again the difference-maker. He ghosted into the box in the 82nd minute to slam home the only goal after a cut-back from Vinícius Júnior. Not the flashiest performance, but the kid is basically a late-goal machine at this point – another clutch strike to keep Madrid top of La Liga and in full Champions League confidence mode.

Over in France, Kylian Mbappé delivered a statement brace for PSG. First, a classic Mbappé move – burning the full-back for pace and rifling a rocket into the far corner. Then a coolly dispatched penalty after a handball in the area. Two goals, another reminder: if you give him space, you're cooked.

Social Media Spotlight: Liverpool vs Man City Meltdown

The online reaction to that VAR call and Núñez’s winner is unreal right now. Timelines are split between tactical threads and pure chaos memes.

My Take: Klopp’s Brave Call vs Pep’s Perfectionism

Honestly, in my opinion, this felt like a game where Jürgen Klopp out-chaosed Pep Guardiola. Liverpool leaned into the emotional, physical side of the contest – relentless pressing, big duels, wild tempo swings. City tried to keep it surgical, but sometimes you can’t spreadsheet your way out of Anfield under the lights.

Klopp's decision to throw on Darwin Núñez late instead of playing it safe was huge. Risky, yes. But that chaos factor is exactly what City hate dealing with. On the flip side, Pep sticking with a high line against Salah and Díaz when his full-backs looked gassed? That felt stubborn. World-class manager, but tonight the gamble backfired.

As for the stars: Salah reminded everyone he’s still that guy in the biggest Premier League live moments, Haaland did everything he could with the service he got, and Bellingham and Mbappé quietly kept their Champions League news stocks sky-high with more goals. If you’re picking a Ballon d’Or shortlist tomorrow, all four are locked in the conversation.

What's Next?

The title race is officially unhinged. One more slip from any of the top sides and the whole football league table reshuffles again. With Europe returning soon and rotation kicking in, expect more shock results, more screaming VAR debates, and more last-minute limbs in the stands.

Don't just guess how big tonight was – look at how it hits the standings and the top scorers today.

Check full stats & standings now

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