Haaland hat-trick chaos & Liverpool drama – Premier League live shockwaves
04.02.2026 - 09:55:56 | ad-hoc-news.deMan City 4-1 Tottenham – Haaland turns it into his own show
Forget easing into the weekend – this was Erling Haaland kicking the door down. Manchester City smashed Tottenham 4-1 at the Etihad, and the Norwegian cyborg grabbed a ruthless hat-trick to light up the football results today.
City jumped ahead early. In the 18th minute, Kevin De Bruyne clipped one of those trademark whipped crosses to the back post, where Erling Haaland bullied his marker and powered a header past the keeper for 1-0. Just 10 minutes later, it was 2-0: Phil Foden drifted inside, slid a gorgeous reverse pass into the box, and Haaland smashed a left?foot rocket into the top corner. No backlift, no mercy.
Tottenham tried to fight back. Early in the second half, a slick move ended with James Maddison teeing up Dejan Kulusevski, who drilled one low from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 and briefly crank the tension.
But then came the big VAR flashpoint. In the 63rd minute, Haaland drove into the area, went shoulder?to?shoulder with Cristian Romero and hit the turf. The ref initially waved play on, but after a long VAR look, the decision flipped: penalty City. Spurs fans are absolutely raging online. Up stepped Haaland, cool as ice, and rolled in his hat?trick goal for 3-1, sending the keeper the wrong way.
City weren’t done. In the 82nd minute, De Bruyne fed Julián Álvarez on the edge, his shot was parried, and Bernardo Silva reacted first to tap home for 4-1 and officially end the contest.
Big?name verdict: Haaland was monstrous – three goals, constant movement, and basically unplayable in the box. De Bruyne looked like his vintage self with two delicious assists. On the flip side, Son Heung?min barely got a sniff; he spent more time tracking back than terrorising City’s back line. A genuine flop night for Spurs’ captain.
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea – Salah clutch, VAR nerves, Anfield roar
If you wanted drama, Liverpool vs Chelsea gave you a full dose. Liverpool edged it 2-1 at Anfield in a match that felt like it could swing every time someone crossed halfway.
Liverpool struck first in the 23rd minute. Mohamed Salah started wide on the right, cut inside onto that famed left foot and played a one-two with Darwin Núñez. The return was a bit heavy, but the ball broke back to Salah, who curled a stunning shot off the far post and in. Vintage Mo. 1-0.
Chelsea hit back after the break. On 56 minutes, Cole Palmer ghosted between the lines, slipped a pass into Nicolas Jackson, and the striker slotted low under Alisson for 1-1. Suddenly Anfield went tense.
Then came the moment everyone is arguing about. In the 74th minute, Núñez chased a loose ball into the box and went down under a challenge from Axel Disasi. The ref pointed to the spot immediately, but VAR dragged it out with multiple replays. Was there enough contact? Liverpool fans screamed yes, Chelsea fans saw a dive. After a three?minute delay, the penalty stood.
Mohamed Salah stepped up under huge pressure and smashed it high into the net for his second of the night and Liverpool’s winner. 2-1, and Anfield absolutely exploded.
Big?name verdict: Salah was clutch – two goals, constant threat, and dragging Liverpool over the line again. Darwin Núñez was chaos as usual: missed one big chance, created two, and won the decisive penalty. For Chelsea, Enzo Fernández had flashes but never really controlled the game, while Raheem Sterling was anonymous on his return; barely any end product, easily pocketed by Trent Alexander?Arnold in key sequences.
Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle – Statement win, Saka sensational
At the Emirates, Arsenal sent a message to everyone watching the Premier League live: they’re not fading away quietly. A 3-0 demolition of Newcastle put serious heat on the teams above them.
The opener came on 14 minutes when Martin Ødegaard slipped a crafty pass into Bukayo Saka. Saka chopped inside his marker and curled a low shot into the far corner. 1-0 and pure winger’s perfection.
Just before half-time, Arsenal doubled it. A whipped corner from Ødegaard found Gabriel Jesus at the near post; his glancing header flicked off a defender and in. It went down as a Gabriel Jesus goal, and the home crowd loved it.
The killer blow arrived in the 69th minute. On the counter, Declan Rice drove forward and slid a pass to Saka, who took on his full-back, cut in again and bent another left?footer into the roof of the net. 3-0, Saka brace, game over.
Big?name verdict: Saka was outrageous – two goals, nonstop running, and every time he got the ball you felt something was about to happen. Ødegaard pulled the strings beautifully with two assists. On the other side, Alexander Isak struggled to get service, and Bruno Guimarães never really took control in midfield. Newcastle looked miles off last season’s intensity.
What this does to the title race & top four
So where does all this leave the football league table? City’s win keeps them thundering along in the title race, breathing right down Liverpool’s neck. Liverpool, with Salah’s brace, just about hang onto the top spot, while Arsenal’s 3-0 statement keeps them firmly in the chase and puts serious pressure on anyone slipping up above them.
Spurs, meanwhile, are sliding. That 4-1 battering drops them further into a messy scrap for the final Champions League places with Newcastle, Chelsea and others hovering. Every result feels massive now, and every dropped point is a potential disaster.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight – Haaland, VAR and pure chaos
While the players cool down, the internet is absolutely melting down. City vs Spurs, in particular, has turned into a social media war zone, with fans locked in on that Haaland penalty and whether VAR has gone too far.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the Haaland VAR penalty decision in #MCITOT
Reporter's take – who's real, who's rattled?
Here's the honest verdict: Manchester City look absolutely terrifying again. When Haaland is that cold in front of goal and De Bruyne is pinging passes like it's a training drill, it feels inevitable. In my opinion, if you give them this kind of momentum, the rest of the league is in serious trouble.
Liverpool, though, are showing the heart of a champion. They were nowhere near their best, but Salah just keeps dragging them over the line. It's not always pretty, but it's effective – and these ugly 2-1 wins in February are the ones you remember in May.
Arsenal? That was a statement. Saka's performance was pure world?class; if he keeps this level, he's absolutely in the conversation with the very top wide forwards in the world. Newcastle and Spurs, meanwhile, look rattled – defensively shaky, mentally fragile when they concede, and starting to feel that top?four pressure.
Closing whistle – stay locked in
So there you have it: from Haaland's ruthless hat?trick to Salah's nerve of steel and Saka tearing it up, the football results today have ripped the title race wide open again. Every match now feels like a mini final, every slip a potential season?changer.
Don't just check the scores and move on – the table is flipping week by week, and tonight's results have massive ripple effects.
Check full stats & standings now
Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.
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