Premier League live drama: Haaland hat-trick and Arsenal late show light up title race
25.01.2026 - 03:39:00
Man City 4-1 Newcastle – Haaland goes full monster mode
Let's start with the game everyone is screaming about. Manchester City vs Newcastle, live, under the lights, and Erling Haaland decided to roll back into full cheat-code form.
City ran out 4-1 winners and Haaland bagged a ruthless hat-trick. The opener came on 18 minutes: Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy reverse pass between the lines, Haaland took one touch and drilled it low past the keeper. Clinical. 1-0.
Newcastle actually hit back through Alexander Isak, who finished off a slick counter-attack on 32 minutes after a sharp cut-back from Anthony Gordon. At 1-1, the away end was bouncing, and there was a brief sense that City might wobble.
Yeah, about that. Haaland wasn't in the mood for drama. On 54 minutes, Phil Foden whipped in a cross, Haaland bullied his marker, and powered in a header from close range. Then on 67 minutes, came his third: a loose ball in the box from a corner, one half-yard of space, and he smashed it high into the roof. Boom. Hat-trick complete, trademark ice-cold celebration.
The fourth goal came late, with Bernardo Silva curling home from the edge after good work again by De Bruyne, but this was the Haaland show from start to finish.
In terms of superstar watch – Haaland was absolutely world-class tonight. His movement was sharp, his pressing electric, and every time City broke forward, he looked like scoring. De Bruyne, meanwhile, looked closer to his vintage self, dictating tempo and dropping dimes all over the park.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham – Late derby heartbreak for Spurs
North London derbies never do "calm", and this one was pure chaos right to the end. Arsenal snatched a 2-1 win over Spurs with an 89th-minute winner that sent the Emirates absolutely wild.
Arsenal took the lead early on when Bukayo Saka cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner on 14 minutes. Vintage Saka, vintage Arsenal. Spurs, though, settled and pushed back. Just before half-time, Heung-Min Son equalised after a quick break, finishing coolly after James Maddison found him with a clever threaded pass.
The second half turned into a nerve test. Spurs had a big chance when Son went one-on-one, but William Saliba made a huge recovery tackle. Then came the late twist: a scramble from a corner, the ball fell kindly to Gabriel Jesus on the edge of the six-yard box, and he smashed it home for 2-1 in the 89th minute. Carnage. Red flares, limbs, absolute madness in the home end.
On the star front, Saka looked like a leader again – always demanding the ball, always driving at full-backs. Son was Spurs' main threat, but faded as Arsenal pushed the line higher and higher. Maddison showed flashes but couldn't drag Spurs back into it late on.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea – Salah scores, then limps off in worrying twist
Over at Anfield, it finished 1-1 between Liverpool and Chelsea, but the real story might not be the scoreline – it could be Mohamed Salah's injury.
Liverpool started fast, and Salah delivered, of course. On 22 minutes, he ghosted in at the back post to turn in a low cross from Diogo Jota. Classic Salah: smart movement, ice-cold finish. Anfield roared, and for a while it felt like Liverpool might run away with it.
Chelsea, though, were stubborn. Cole Palmer continued his breakout season, curling in an equaliser on 61 minutes after drifting into space between the lines and firing past Alisson from just outside the box. 1-1 and game back on.
Then came the moment everyone online is arguing about. On 68 minutes, Salah pulled up holding his hamstring after a sprint down the right. He went down, physios rushed on, and after a short assessment he walked off slowly, straight down the tunnel. Massive worry. Without him, Liverpool lost their edge in attack.
In terms of big-name verdicts: Salah was sharp until he came off – you could see Chelsea panicking every time he cut inside. Palmer was Chelsea's standout again, always asking for the ball, happy to take responsibility. Darwin Núñez worked his socks off but wasted a couple of good openings, while Enzo Fernández blew hot and cold in midfield.
What does this mean for the title race?
City's dominant win, Arsenal's derby smash-and-grab and Liverpool dropping points mean the top of the table just got violently reshuffled. City close the gap and flex their goal difference, Arsenal hang on in the race with pure grit, and Liverpool will be praying Salah's injury isn't serious or their momentum could evaporate fast.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight: Haaland hat-trick and Salah injury dominate feeds
The reaction online is nuclear. One topic stands above everything: the contrast between Haaland's destruction of Newcastle and the anxiety around Salah's injury. Fans are debating whether tonight was the moment the title race tilted towards Manchester City again.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing their minds over Haaland's hat-trick and what it means for the title race
My take: City just sent a message, Arsenal show heart, Liverpool wobble
Let's be brutally honest – tonight felt like a statement from Manchester City. When Haaland plays with that kind of hunger, it looks unfair. The movement, the finishing, the absolute refusal to give defenders a break – that performance screamed "title charge activated".
Arsenal, for me, showed champion mentality, even if they're not favourites. You don't win derbies like that without serious character. Saka is already playing like a captain, and Jesus popping up with the winner in a chaotic box is exactly what you expect from a big-game forward.
Liverpool, though… there are questions. The pressing isn't as suffocating, the control phases come and go, and if Salah is out for any stretch of time, that's a huge chunk of goals and fear factor gone from their front line. In my opinion, this draw at home – combined with City and Arsenal both winning – is a bad night in the bigger picture.
If you're looking at the football league table right now, you can almost feel the pressure shifting. City are looming, Haaland is breathing fire again, and everyone else knows one bad week could kill their title dream.
Closing whistle: title race officially in chaos
So, to wrap it up: today's football results today in the Premier League have blown the race wide open. City hammer Newcastle with a Haaland masterclass, Arsenal cling on with a derby thriller, and Liverpool stumble while sweating on Salah's fitness. Add in Cole Palmer's rise and the constant noise around VAR decisions and tactical tweaks, and you've got a season that refuses to slow down.
Want the full picture – goals, points, goal difference, and who's really in control? The table tells the truth.
Check full stats & standings now
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