Liverpool vs Man City goes wild: Anfield chaos, Haaland & Salah live drama
09.02.2026 - 18:47:26
Premier League mayhem: Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – absolute madness
Anfield under the lights, Premier League live, two managers pacing like caged lions – and from the first whistle, you could feel it: this wasn't just another game, this was a season-defining punch-up.
Manchester City actually struck first. In the 14th minute, Kevin De Bruyne slid one of those trademark killer passes in behind, and Erling Haaland did exactly what you expect – one touch to set, one brutal low finish into the bottom corner. 0-1, City. Haaland's celebration right in front of the Kop? Yeah, that set the temperature.
Liverpool didn't sulk, they snapped back. In the 27th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a diagonal to Luis DĂaz, who skinned his man and cut it back. Salah ghosted into the box and smashed home first-time: Mohamed Salah 1-1, and Anfield absolutely erupted.
Right before half-time, came the first big flashpoint. City thought they'd gone 2-1 up when Phil Foden curled one in after a scramble, but VAR took an eternity and finally ruled it out for a marginal offside in the build-up on Bernardo Silva. City players furious, Guardiola laughing in disbelief on the touchline, and the noise from both sets of fans was insane.
Second-half: stars, nerves, and a late twist
After the break, Liverpool raised the tempo. On 56 minutes, a clever short-corner routine found Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge of the box. He dropped a shoulder and unleashed a rocket into the top corner. 2-1 Liverpool – an absolute screamer.
But City never die quietly. On 71 minutes, De Bruyne again was the conductor. A clipped ball to the far post, and Riyad Mahrez – ice cold – volleyed low across goal. 2-2, and suddenly Anfield was biting its nails. Haaland kept drifting wide to drag defenders around, but he had one huge moment on 79 minutes: one-on-one with Alisson, he tried to dink it, and the keeper got a fingertip. Massive save. From potential hero to frustrated figure – you could see Haaland raging at himself.
Then came the sequence everybody's talking about. Minute 88, Liverpool break. DĂaz bursts into the box and goes down under a tangle with Kyle Walker. The ref initially waves play on, City sprint up the other end and Haaland scores… but then VAR calls it back. After another long check, the referee goes to the monitor and gives Liverpool a penalty. City players surround him, Guardiola is losing it on the sidelines, and the whole stadium is shaking.
Who else steps up but Mohamed Salah? 91st minute, title-race pressure, and he lashes the penalty into the top-right corner. 3-2 Liverpool. Salah at the double, Anfield delirious, City collapsing onto the turf. In terms of famous players performing under pressure, Salah was pure clutch tonight – two goals, big-game aura, leader energy. Haaland, meanwhile, ends with a goal but also a monster miss and a disallowed strike hanging over him. Hero and villain in the same night.
Top scorers today & table twist: where this leaves the Premier League
On a day packed with soccer news, this was the one that shook the title race. Salah's brace fires him back into the conversation among the Premier League top scorers today, while Haaland keeps stacking numbers but walks off looking like he's lost ground in the bigger battle – the league itself.
Elsewhere, Arsenal ground out a tight win with Gabriel Jesus on the scoresheet, and that result keeps the pressure on both Liverpool and City. Over in London, Chelsea's young guns finally sparked as Cole Palmer scored again in a 2-1 win that might just keep their European hopes alive. But let's be real: everything tonight revolves around that chaos at Anfield and how it flips the football league table.
Liverpool's win nudges them to the top by a razor-thin margin, City slip back, and Arsenal are lurking just behind. Every point now feels like a cup final. With Champions League news also swirling and midweek fixtures coming fast, this league is set up for a ridiculous run-in.
What does this mean for the title race? Liverpool have momentum, City suddenly look a bit human, and Arsenal smell blood. For the absolute live picture of who's up, who's falling away, and who might sneak into Europe, you need to see the table in real time. Click here for the live standings
Champions League angles: big names, big pressure
This match wasn't just about three Premier League points. With Champions League knockout rounds looming, every minute tonight felt like a dress rehearsal. De Bruyne looked back near his ruthless best as a playmaker. Virgil van Dijk was immense in key duels with Haaland, especially late on when City were pumping crosses into the box. And Salah? If you're drawing up a list of players you trust in a Champions League quarter-final, he's right at the top right now.
From a match report perspective, Liverpool showed resilience and killer instinct. City showed flashes of dominance but cracked at the key moments – that's exactly the sort of fine margin that decides European nights too. Expect the Champions League news cycle over the next few days to hammer this theme: Liverpool rising at the right time, City suddenly vulnerable when the pressure spikes.
Social Media Spotlight: Anfield meltdown goes viral
As soon as that VAR penalty was given, the internet exploded. Clips of Walker's challenge, slowed down from every angle; Haaland's disallowed goal; Salah grinning at the Kop after the winner – it's all over your feed right now.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing it over the late VAR penalty and Haaland's disallowed goal
The official hashtag #LIVMCI is basically a warzone: City fans raging at the call, Liverpool fans posting Salah memes for days. On Instagram, Liverpool's account is already spamming dressing-room celebrations, and you just know the YouTube highlight packages from rights-holders are farming views off that 90th-minute twist.
Reporter's take: title statement or VAR robbery?
Here's my honest take: if you're City, you feel robbed. Two huge VAR moments went against you, and Haaland will be having nightmares about that one-on-one. But if you're Liverpool, this is exactly what title-winning teams do – they suffer, they bend, and then they find a way to punch you in the face in stoppage time.
Mohamed Salah was utterly world class today. Not just the goals, but the leadership, the constant threat, the calm in chaos. On the other side, Erling Haaland did what he always does – he scored – but his overall performance felt a touch off. In the biggest games, those tiny margins between clinical and careless decide legacies.
In my opinion, this feels like a statement win for Liverpool and a reality check for City. Guardiola will be furious with the officiating, sure, but deep down he knows his side let this slip. Anfield is still a nightmare away day, and tonight it swallowed City whole.
What's next? More drama incoming
The beauty (and absolute stress) of the Premier League is that you barely get time to breathe. Another round of soccer games is coming, Champions League knockout ties are lurking, and every team in the top four is one slip away from crisis-mode headlines.
If today is anything to go by, we're heading for a wild, photo-finish title race. So keep an eye not just on the scorelines but on how the football league table keeps shuffling every single matchday.
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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