Liverpool vs Man City chaos: Salah & De Bruyne light it up live
11.02.2026 - 22:57:35
Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – Anfield turns into a pressure cooker
This one started at full throttle. On 9 minutes, Liverpool broke the deadlock: a slick move down the right, Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed a low cross, and Mohamed Salah arrived on cue to guide a first-time finish into the far corner past Ederson. Anfield exploded, Salah wheeled away to the Kop, and you just knew this wasn’t going to be a quiet night.
City reacted like champions. On 23 minutes, they carved Liverpool open with trademark precision: Bernardo Silva slipped a cute ball between the lines, Kevin De Bruyne took one touch and absolutely lashed a right-foot drive into the top corner from the edge of the box. Alisson had no chance, 1-1, and suddenly the away end found its voice.
Then came the first big flashpoint. Just before half-time, Erling Haaland thought he’d turned the game around. De Bruyne whipped in a vicious ball, Erling Haaland bullied his marker and powered a header inside the post. City celebrated, but VAR kicked in. After a long check for a tight offside in the build-up, the goal was chalked off. Haaland laughed in disbelief, Guardiola raged on the touchline, and Anfield fed off the chaos.
Second-half madness: Salah the assassin, Haaland hero then almost villain
Right after the restart, Liverpool raised the tempo again. On 52 minutes, the press paid off. Curtis Jones robbed Rodri in midfield, slid the ball wide to Luis DĂaz, and his cut-back found Darwin Núñez. One touch to set, one ruthless finish low past Ederson into the bottom corner. 2-1 Liverpool, Núñez screaming into the cameras – pure, raw emotion.
But if you thought City were done, think again. Haaland, quiet by his insane standards in the first half, roared to life. On 68 minutes, Phil Foden clipped a teasing cross into the box, and Erling Haaland rose above Van Dijk to thump a header into the net. This time there was no VAR rescue for Liverpool. 2-2, game back on, Haaland silencing the jeers with that trademark ice-cold celebration.
The winner, though, belonged to Liverpool’s main man. In the 79th minute, Anfield witnessed peak Salah. Núñez spun in behind and squared to Salah, who still had plenty to do. The Egyptian twisted past Rúben Dias, opened his body and curled a left-footed beauty inside the far post. Mohamed Salah again, 3-2 Liverpool, absolute bedlam in the stands. The camera panned to Guardiola, hands on head, stunned.
There was still time for another twist. Deep into stoppage time, City screamed for a penalty when Haaland went down under a challenge from Konaté. The referee initially pointed to the spot, but after another tense VAR review, the decision was overturned – minimal contact, Haaland already on the way down. Liverpool fans roared like they’d scored a fourth; City players surrounded the referee, disbelief everywhere. That VAR call is exactly what everyone is arguing about online right now.
Stars under the spotlight: heroes and nearly-men
Mohamed Salah was simply outrageous. Two goals, constant threat, dragging City’s back line all over the place. Every big Liverpool moment seemed to orbit around him. On current form, he’s carrying this title push on his shoulders.
Erling Haaland delivered a monster’s header and had one goal ruled out, but he’ll be haunted by that overturned penalty shout. He did everything a number 9 can do – bullying defenders, creating panic – but tonight, the margins went against him.
Kevin De Bruyne was pure elegance. His equaliser was world-class and he orchestrated most of City’s dangerous moments. Still, even with him purring, City couldn’t close it out. At the back, Rúben Dias had a rough night, constantly forced into 1v1s against Salah and Núñez.
For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk had a mixed evening – some huge blocks, but he also lost Haaland for that header. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis DĂaz were relentless going forward, stretching City over and over. Alisson produced a massive late save from Foden to protect the points.
Impact on the Premier League table
This win blows the title race wide open. Liverpool’s three points drag them right into the thick of it, while City suddenly look a little more human. From a situation where Guardiola’s side could have pulled away, they now feel the breath of Liverpool and the chasing pack on their necks.
Arsenal and the rest will be watching this result with huge interest. Dropped points from City at this stage transform every upcoming round into a mini-final. The margins are brutal, and one slip like tonight can swing momentum entirely.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham and Mbappé in the spotlight
Over in Spain, Real Madrid kept their own title push rolling with a tight win, and of course, Jude Bellingham was in the headlines again. He didn’t score the winner this time, but his all-action display in midfield – crunching tackles, line-breaking runs, and smart link-up play – underlined why he’s already the heartbeat of Madrid’s system. VinĂcius JĂşnior grabbed the decisive goal, cutting in and smashing home after a clever one-two on the edge of the box.
In France, Kylian Mbappé once again turned Ligue 1 into his personal playground. He bagged a brace, including one outrageous solo strike where he picked the ball up near halfway, burned past two defenders, and rifled into the top corner. Defences know exactly what’s coming and still can’t stop it. With performances like that, the Champions League news cycle is already spinning around how far PSG can go this season.
Social Media Spotlight: VAR rage and Salah worship
Right now, football social feeds are an absolute warzone. Liverpool fans are spamming timelines with Salah clips and "never write us off" takes, while City fans are freezing frames of that stoppage-time incident with Haaland, convinced they were robbed. The hashtag is on fire, memes are already dropping, and every angle of that VAR overturn is being broken down like it’s a crime scene.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious and divided over the late VAR call on Haaland
My take: this felt like a statement night
From a young reporter’s seat, this didn’t just feel like another big game – it felt like a title statement from Liverpool. The intensity, the pressing, the way they refused to crumble after being pegged back twice – that’s what champions look like. Salah right now is playing like a man who’s heard every "he’s past his peak" comment and is out to torch every defence in response.
For City, it’s not panic stations, but it is a warning. When De Bruyne and Haaland both deliver big moments and you still walk away with nothing, something’s off. The defensive balance isn’t quite right, and elite sides like Liverpool are ruthless enough to expose it. In my opinion, Guardiola has to tweak that back line and midfield protection fast, because the rest of the league can smell blood.
And that VAR drama at the end? Honestly, whichever way it went, there was going to be meltdown. Contact was light, Haaland made the most of it, and in this era of forensic replays, strikers don’t always get the benefit of the doubt. But you just know that clip is going to be replayed every time the title race is mentioned from now to May.
Closing whistle: title race officially unhinged
If you were looking up football results today expecting routine wins and quiet storylines, you picked the wrong day. Liverpool vs City gave us screamers, controversy, superstar performances and a table twist that’s going to echo for weeks. With Bellingham and Mbappé also doing their thing across Europe, it feels like every top league is being defined by its biggest names stepping up.
Don’t just trust the vibes though – check what this chaos actually did to the numbers.
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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