Haaland hat-trick carnage as Man City smash Chelsea – live title shockwaves
05.02.2026 - 15:00:51
Man City 4 1 Chelsea Haaland turns into a cheat code
At the Etihad, Manchester City tore into Chelsea with a 41 win that felt even heavier than the scoreline. Erling Haaland bagged a ruthless hat-trick, while Phil Foden added a silky finish of his own. For Chelsea, a late consolation from Cole Palmer was basically just damage limitation.
City started at 100 mph. On 12 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slid a trademark through ball between the lines, and Haaland bulldozed past Benot Badiashile before smashing low past the keeper for 10. Brutal. For the second, around the half-hour mark, Josko Gvardiol whipped in a teasing cross, Haaland shrugged off Thiago Silva and powered in a header. Classic No. 9 stuff.
Phil Foden made it 30 just after half-time Bernardo Silva danced along the edge of the box, slipped a pass inside, and Foden bent an outrageous left-foot strike into the far corner. Stamford Bridge anxiety was trending and Chelsea werent even at home.
Haaland completed his hat-trick from the spot after a clumsy challenge on Foden in the area. Cool as you like, he waited for the keeper to move and rolled it the other way for 40. Cole Palmer at least gave Chelsea fans something to shout about, curling one into the top corner late on after a quick one-two with Raheem Sterling, but it barely scratched Citys armour.
In terms of big names: Haaland was pure destruction, De Bruyne looked like hed never been injured in his life, and Foden keeps playing like hes already in the world-class bracket. On the flip side, Enzo Fernndez and Moiss Caicedo got completely overrun; their press never clicked, and they left oceans of space for City to exploit.
Liverpool 1 1 Tottenham Salah scores, but Reds slip again
Over at Anfield, Liverpool dropped more points in the title chase with a 11 draw against Tottenham in one of those frustrating soccer games where they did almost everything but finish it off. Mohamed Salah got on the scoresheet, but Son Heung-min cancelled it out and the home crowd left slightly stunned.
Liverpool opened the scoring after heavy pressure. Darwin Nez spun away from his marker and fed Salah inside the box; the Egyptian king chopped onto his left and rifled low inside the near post. Vintage Salah: 10 and Anfield rocking.
But Spurs refused to fold. In the second half, a rapid counter broke Liverpools structure. James Maddison slipped a killer ball into space, and Son Heung-min timed his run perfectly before dinking the finish over the onrushing keeper for 11. Cold-blooded.
There was big controversy late on. Liverpool thought they had a penalty when Luis Daz went down under a challenge from Cristian Romero. The ref waved play on, VAR had a long look, and in the end nothing given. Thats the moment exploding across social media right now, with Liverpool fans convinced it was stonewall and neutrals split right down the middle.
Salah was sharp but not at his ruthless best after the goal; he snatched at a couple of half-chances. Nez ran like a madman all night but lacked that clean, killer touch. For Spurs, Son led by example and Maddison pulled strings, especially on the counter.
Champions League chase and the live table twist
This all means the Premier League picture just got spicy again. Citys win slams serious pressure onto Liverpool and Arsenal in the title fight, while Chelsea are stuck staring anxiously at the chasing pack for European spots. Tottenhams point at Anfield is huge in the race for the Champions League places, especially with rivals around them also dropping points recently.
Citys goal difference ticks up, Haaland rockets up the top scorers today charts, and Chelseas defensive numbers look uglier by the week. The football league table is shuffling live, and the margins for error are shrinking fast.
What does this mean for the title race? City are now breathing down Liverpools neck, with Spurs and Arsenal fighting for every inch in that Champions League zone. Want the full live picture? Click here for the live standings
Social media spotlight: internet meltdown edition
Its not just the pitch thats on fire your phone is too. X is swarming with slow-mo replays of that Anfield VAR call, Instagram is flooded with Haaland flexes and Citys dressing room scenes, and YouTube is already stacked with highlight reels.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans going wild over Haaland hat-trick and VAR drama at Anfield
My take: City look ruthless, Liverpool look rattled
From a pure eye-test vibe, this felt like a turning-point night. City were icy, controlled and absolutely lethal in both boxes. Haaland looked unplayable again, De Bruyne was threading passes like it was a training drill, and you could almost feel that familiar City title-machine energy humming in the background.
Liverpool, on the other hand, looked tense. The press was good, the crowd was loud, but in the final third they were a touch hesitant and that late VAR non-call is just going to feed the frustration. If they keep dropping points at Anfield, theyre handing momentum straight into Pep Guardiolas hands.
As for Chelsea? Honestly, something has to give. You cant keep spending like that and defending like this. When Haaland is bullying your back line and your midfield is leaving chasms everywhere, no tactical tweak in the world saves you.
Whats next?
The title race is alive, the Champions League spots are a dogfight, and the next round of soccer games just became must-watch. Every slip, every screamer, every VAR check is going to be magnified from here on out.
If you want to properly feel the pressure these clubs are under, you have to see exactly where they stand right now and whos breathing down their necks.
Check full stats & standings now
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