Haaland hits hat-trick as Man City crush Chelsea in Premier League live chaos
07.02.2026 - 01:11:48
Man City 4-1 Chelsea â Haaland goes full cheat code
Let's start where the noise is the loudest. Manchester City smashed Chelsea 4-1 in a game that was basically a live advert for why you never, ever give Erling Haaland space in the box.
City actually went behind early. In the 9th minute, Cole Palmer came back to haunt his former club, rolling a cool left-footed finish into the bottom corner after a slick one-two with Raheem Sterling. The Etihad went quiet for about 30 seconds. That was it.
From there, it was a blue avalanche. On 22 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne swung in one of those trademark wicked crosses from the right half-space. Haaland bullied his marker, rose like a truck with springs, and powered a header past the keeper for 1-1. Pure statement.
Just before half-time, City turned the screw. Phil Foden wriggled past two defenders on the edge of the box and slipped a pass through a tiny gap. Haaland snapped onto it, one touch to set, second touch a ruthless low finish across the keeper. 2-1 City, and you could feel Chelsea starting to crack.
In the second half it got ugly. On 63 minutes, De Bruyne again. A clipped ball over the top, Haaland peeled off the shoulder, chested it down and absolutely lashed a half-volley into the roof of the net from just inside the area. Hat-trick complete. 3-1. Game over. The cameras zoomed in on the Chelsea bench and the faces said it all.
City weren't done showing off, though. On 78 minutes, Foden got the goal he totally deserved. Bernardo Silva drove through midfield, fed Foden on the left, and the England star cut inside onto his right and curled a gorgeous shot into the far top corner. 4-1 and pure party mode inside the Etihad.
Star verdicts: Haaland was beyond world-class â relentless movement, brutal finishing, a complete nightmare for Chelsea's back line. De Bruyne looked like a puppet master again, pulling every string with two assists and about a million dangerous balls. For Chelsea, Palmer was the only real bright spark; Sterling drifted out of the game and the defence just melted once City turned up the tempo.
Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle â Salah scores, but Anfield frustration
While City were flexing, Liverpool stumbled. A 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Anfield feels like a loss in the context of the title race.
Liverpool actually started strong. In the 18th minute, Mohamed Salah got his moment. Trent Alexander-Arnold picked him out with a trademark diagonal, Salah killed it stone dead, dropped a shoulder, and whipped a low shot inside the near post. 1-0 and the Kop bounced.
But they never killed the game off, and that invited trouble. Darwin NĂșñez missed a huge chance early in the second half, dragging a shot wide when clean through. And they paid for it in the 72nd minute. Newcastle broke down the right, Anthony Gordon drove at the back line and slid a pass across the box. Alexander Isak arrived with perfect timing, side-footing home for 1-1.
The drama wasn't done. On 84 minutes, Liverpool thought they had a penalty when Salah went down under a tangle with Sven Botman. The ref pointed to the spot, Anfield exploded â and then VAR stepped in. After a long check, the decision was overturned for what looked like the slightest touch on the ball from Botman. Cue absolute fury in the stands and online.
Star verdicts: Salah was sharp, dangerous, and still looked like the guy who drags Liverpool out of trouble, but he didn't get the second goal they so badly needed. Trent's passing radar was humming but defensively he had a couple of shaky moments. For Newcastle, Isak was ice cold in front of goal and Gordon's engine just never stopped.
Champions League chasers: Spurs & Arsenal keep pace
Elsewhere in today's soccer games, the Champions League race is just as wild.
Tottenham 2-1 Brighton: Spurs came from behind after a sluggish start. Brighton went 1-0 up through JoĂŁo Pedro, who smashed in from close range after a corner wasn't cleared. But Spurs flipped the script after the break. Son Heung-min dragged them level with a smart finish at the near post after a neat one-two with James Maddison. Then, deep into stoppage time, Maddison curled in a gorgeous free-kick that flicked off the bar and in. 2-1, limbs everywhere, and Spurs stay right in the Champions League hunt.
Arsenal 3-0 Wolves: Arsenal were in full control mode at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a classic cut-inside-and-bend-it special, curling a left-foot rocket into the far corner. Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 with a poacher's finish after a scramble in the box, and late on Martin Ădegaard slid home a third after a slick passing move. Clinical, confident, and exactly the kind of performance that keeps them breathing down the necks of City and Liverpool.
Title race temperature check
So what does all this actually mean? City's win slams them right back into control of the Premier League title race, piling huge pressure on Liverpool after that draw and keeping Arsenal in chase mode rather than genuine control. The gap at the top has tightened, and every single point from here looks like gold dust.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight: VAR rage and Haaland memes
While all this is going on, the internet is absolutely losing it. Two big themes: the VAR call at Anfield and Haaland turning into a live-action video game character again.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over VAR killing Liverpool's late penalty shout
My take: statement win vs. statement stumble
Let's be real: today felt like one of those days we might look back on in May and say, "Yeah, that was the turning point." City didn't just win; they made a statement. Haaland looked unstoppable, De Bruyne looked like the best playmaker on the planet again, and the whole team smelled blood and went for it.
On the flip side, Liverpool looked just that little bit short. Not terrible, not collapsing â just not ruthless. In a title race against a machine like City, that's brutal. If you let chances slide and rely on VAR going your way, you're gambling with your season.
Arsenal and Spurs? They're not going anywhere. Arsenal look smooth, confident, and dangerous from every angle, while Spurs are chaos merchants in the best possible way â leaky at times, but always one moment of magic away from flipping a game. The Champions League race is going to be pure drama.
What's next?
From now on, every single point at the top of the Premier League is going to feel like a cup final. City look like they're hitting that terrifying late-season gear again, Liverpool have to respond immediately, and Arsenal can't afford a single slip if they want this to stay a three-horse race.
If today is anything to go by, clear your schedule for the run-in. The goals, the VAR drama, the late winners â it's all only just getting started.
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