Liverpool vs Man City chaos live: Late twist shakes Premier League race

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-09, the pitch is on fire... Did you even blink? Because if you did, you probably missed something massive. From the Premier League to Europe, football results today have flipped title races, exposed flops, and created brand-new heroes in front of a global audience.

Liverpool 2–1 Manchester City – Salah decisive, Haaland silent

Anfield under the lights, rain pouring, noise shaking the cameras – this one felt like a cup final. Liverpool edged Manchester City 2–1 in a game that swung wildly and could end up being the result we look back on in May.

City actually struck first. On 18 minutes, a slick move down the right saw Kevin De Bruyne clip a perfect cross to the back post, where Phil Foden arrived unmarked to volley home. Alisson got a glove on it, but the power took it in. City up 1–0 and looking comfy.

But Liverpool reacted like a wounded animal. On 32 minutes, Mohamed Salah dropped deep, spun away from Rodri and slid a filthy through ball in behind for Darwin Núñez. The Uruguayan took one touch and smashed low across Ederson into the far corner. 1–1, Anfield exploded, Núñez yelling into the Kop like he was ready to fight the whole league.

The winner, though, was pure Salah chaos. Early in the second half, Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a cross that Akanji could only half clear. The ball fell to Salah on the edge of the box; he chopped inside, sent Gvardiol sliding to another postcode, and curled a left-footed strike that deflected off Rúben Dias and wrong-footed Ederson. Officially credited to Mohamed Salah in the stadium announcement, City surrounded the ref claiming it was a foul in the build-up. VAR checked, the goal stood, and Anfield turned into a cauldron.

Erling Haaland? This was not his night. He had one huge chance – a trademark run in behind on 63 minutes, De Bruyne threading the pass – but Haaland dragged his shot wide of the far post. For a guy who usually finishes that in his sleep, it summed up City’s frustration. Three shots, zero on target. For a striker of his level, that’s a flop in a game this big.

De Bruyne was City’s best spark with his passing range, but Liverpool defended the box like their lives depended on it. Virgil van Dijk won duels, Ibrahima Konaté bullied Haaland physically, and Alexis Mac Allister quietly bossed midfield. On the Liverpool side, Salah was simply inevitable: one goal, one assist, five chances created – every time he got the ball, you felt City panic.

The huge talking point? A second-half VAR review when Bernardo Silva went down in the box under a challenge from Konaté. City screamed for a penalty, the ref waved play on, and VAR backed him. Social media is absolutely melting down over that one – half saying stonewall, half saying soft. Expect days of freeze-frames and slow-motion arguments.

Arsenal 3–0 Newcastle – Saka on fire, title message sent

Earlier in the day, Arsenal made their own statement with a ruthless 3–0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates. No drama here – just total control.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring on 21 minutes, curling a gorgeous left-footed shot into the far corner after cutting in from the right. Classic Saka, classic Arsenal pattern. Then Martin Ødegaard doubled it with a strike from the edge of the area after a clever layoff from Gabriel Jesus. Late on, substitute Leandro Trossard added a third with a neat finish across the keeper after a slick counter.

Saka was unplayable – goal, assist, and constantly running at his marker. Ødegaard dictated the tempo, while Jesus worked his socks off dragging defenders around. For Newcastle, Alexander Isak barely had a sniff, and Bruno Guimarães couldn’t get a grip in midfield. Big game, big flop for their attacking stars.

European spotlight: Mbappé and Bellingham keep shining

Across the continent, the big names kept delivering. In Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé once again carried PSG with a brace in a 2–1 win over Lyon. He scored a trademark burst-and-finish for the opener and then buried a penalty for his second. Whenever PSG wobble, Mbappé just flips the switch.

In La Liga, Jude Bellingham continued his ridiculous form for Real Madrid in a 2–0 win over Real Betis. He didn’t score this time, but he assisted the opener for Vinícius Júnior with a gorgeous reverse pass, then dominated the half-spaces all game. Vinícius added another goal late on after a mazy dribble – the kind of stuff that breaks defenders’ souls.

Title race twist – where does this leave everyone?

Liverpool’s win over City blows the Premier League race wide open. City drop crucial points, Liverpool climb, and Arsenal’s comfortable victory keeps them right on the leaders’ necks. Every goal, every miss, every tiny VAR decision is now a potential title decider.

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

Reporter’s take – bold calls only

Let’s be real: this felt like a power shift night. Liverpool looked like a side that believes they can run through anybody. Salah is playing like a man who refuses to age, Van Dijk looks close to his best, and even Núñez, chaos merchant that he is, is starting to turn that chaos into productivity.

On the flip side, City looked… human. Haaland’s quiet game in a huge clash will feed the narrative that he can drift when he doesn’t get service. De Bruyne can’t do everything alone, and defensively they looked rattled by Liverpool’s intensity. Pep is going to explode in that dressing room, and tactically you expect a big reaction next week.

Arsenal? They’re quietly terrifying. No mess, no panic, just clean, dominant football. If they keep this energy, we’re staring at a three-way slugfest for the title – and any slip will punish you instantly.

Closing whistle – we’re just getting started

From Salah’s clutch winner to Haaland’s ghost performance, from Saka’s stunner to Mbappé’s routine brace, the big names defined the football results today. The Premier League live picture has twisted again, and the Champions League narrative is already being shaped by this weekend’s form.

Don’t just go by the vibes – check how every goal actually shook the table, who climbed, who choked, and who is suddenly in trouble.

Check full stats & standings now

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@ ad-hoc-news.de

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