Liverpool stun City in wild Anfield classic as title race goes live
12.02.2026 - 01:35:55
Liverpool vs Manchester City – Anfield turns into a madhouse
This one had everything. Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City, and it felt even crazier than the scoreline. Mohamed Salah was the ice-cold assassin again, while Erling Haaland went from hero to haunted in the space of 90 breathless minutes.
City actually struck first. In the 18th minute, Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy through ball into the box, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does – one touch to set, second touch smashed low past Alisson for 0–1. Classic Haaland: minimal backlift, maximum violence.
Anfield didn’t flinch. Just 10 minutes later, the equaliser was pure chaos. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a corner, Virgil van Dijk climbed over everyone and powered a header that Ederson could only parry, and Darwin Núñez reacted fastest to stab it home for 1–1. Cue limbs in the Kop.
The game turned on its head right before the break. On 44 minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai drove through midfield, clipped a pass into the channel, and Salah did the rest – cutting inside Josko Gvardiol and curling a brutal left-foot strike into the far top corner. Mohamed Salah for 2–1, vintage stuff. That was his second big chance of the half and the one that absolutely ripped the roof off.
Haaland’s missed moment and the VAR earthquake
Second half, City came flying out. De Bruyne and Phil Foden kept pulling Liverpool wide, and on 62 minutes Foden lofted a gorgeous cross to the back post. Haaland had peeled off Ibrahima Konaté, completely unmarked, but somehow his header bounced down and over the bar. Massive let-off, and you could see Pep Guardiola hit the turf in disbelief.
But City did get level. In the 71st minute, Bernardo Silva danced along the edge of the box and slid a reverse pass to Foden, who drilled low across goal. Alisson’s touch wasn’t enough and Phil Foden wheeled away as it crept in for 2–2. City bench went nuts, and suddenly it felt like Liverpool were hanging on.
Then came the moment the internet is not going to shut up about: the late penalty and the VAR saga. In the 88th minute, Núñez charged into the box, Ruben Dias stepped across him, there was contact, and Núñez hit the turf. Referee pointed to the spot instantly. City players surrounded him, insisting Dias got a touch on the ball.
VAR checked it for what felt like forever. Replays showed Dias brushing the ball but also clattering Núñez. After a long monitor check, decision stood – penalty Liverpool. The stadium went silent for a second, then roared as Salah stepped up.
Mohamed Salah vs Ederson, 90+1 minute. Salah went high and hard to the right, Ederson guessed the right side but had zero chance. 3–2 Liverpool, Salah brace, Anfield in absolute meltdown. City’s backline looked shattered, and Haaland’s earlier miss suddenly felt like the turning point.
Heroes & flops: Salah shines, Haaland rages
Mohamed Salah was simply outrageous: two goals, relentless pressing, dragging his side through the toughest moments. Every time Liverpool were stuck, the ball to Salah felt like a cheat code. He was man of the match on pure deciding quality.
Erling Haaland wasn’t exactly invisible – he scored early and bullied Liverpool’s centre-backs in phases – but that second-half miss at 2–1 down is going to haunt him. In these monster soccer games, your big No.9 has to bury those, and tonight he blinked.
Kevin De Bruyne quietly bossed loads of the tempo for City, but faded after the hour as Liverpool’s press ramped up. For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk was a rock after a shaky start, and Dominik Szoboszlai put in a dirty?work shift between the lines that let Salah stay lethal higher up.
Title race twist: where does this leave the table?
This result is gigantic. Liverpool’s win blows the title race wide open again, edging them ahead of City in the Premier League live standings and piling huge pressure on Guardiola’s side heading into the next run of fixtures. City’s margin for error just got tiny, while Liverpool suddenly have all the momentum and all the noise.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham & Mbappé keep the Champions League buzz hot
While England was losing its mind, the big guns on the continent kept the spotlight burning. In Spain, Jude Bellingham was on the scoresheet again as Real Madrid edged a tight 2–1 home win, smashing in a late winner from just inside the box after a slick one-two. His goal keeps Madrid right in the thick of the Champions League news narrative – every time there’s a big European night looming, Bellingham seems to be the headline.
In France, Kylian Mbappé did what he always does for PSG – one goal, one assist in a 3–0 cruise, including a trademark cut-in-from-the-left curler. With those numbers, he sits near the top scorers today across the major leagues, and his form is screaming "Champions League statement incoming".
Social Media Spotlight – the world reacts in real time
The final whistle at Anfield didn’t end the drama; it just moved it to your phone. From VAR freeze-frames to Salah worship and Haaland memes, the timelines are absolutely drowning in takes.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans are losing it over that late VAR penalty call at Anfield
My take: this was a season-defining punch to the jaw
From a young reporter’s seat, this felt like a statement night. In my opinion, Jürgen Klopp (and yes, his future successor narrative is buzzing too) just landed a psychological uppercut on Guardiola. Salah showed again why he’s still one of the deadliest forwards on the planet, and why you never, ever write Liverpool off in these monster soccer games.
City, though? The structure is still elite, but there’s a fragility when the pressure spikes. Haaland has to be more ruthless in these defining moments, and the way they mentally unraveled after the VAR call will be clipped and shared all week. Top teams don’t just need quality; they need cold blood. Tonight, Liverpool had more of it.
Throw in Bellingham carrying Madrid, Mbappé cruising for PSG, and suddenly the whole European picture feels electric. The domestic football league table is shifting, the Champions League news cycle is already spinning, and every big name knows the margin between hero and villain is one bounce, one whistle, one VAR frame.
Closing whistle: don’t blink now
If tonight proved anything, it’s this: in this season’s title and top-four race, one wild night can flip the whole narrative. Salah’s brace, Haaland’s miss, that VAR penalty – they all echo straight into the numbers column on the league table.
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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