Haaland hat-trick, De Bruyne masterclass – Man City smash Everton live
08.02.2026 - 00:37:49
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-08, the pitch is on fire... You wanted wild soccer games, you got them. Manchester City just blew the doors off Everton at the Etihad, Erling Haaland went absolutely nuclear in front of goal, and Kevin De Bruyne turned the Premier League into his personal training ground. If you blinked, you probably missed another City attack crashing into Jordan Pickford's net.
This is the sort of night where you grab your phone, spam the group chat, and scream: "Did you see that??" Because this wasn't just a routine win – this was a title-race statement, a flex, a warning to everyone above them in the football league table.
The second goal was pure City art. De Bruyne dropped into the half-space, slid a filthy reverse pass between two defenders, and Haaland pounced again. One touch out of his feet, second touch laced low into the corner: 2–0. Assist: Kevin De Bruyne, Goal: Erling Haaland. Everton’s back line looked like they were trying to defend in quicksand.
Just before half-time, it got worse for the Toffees. A quick combination between Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva dragged Everton wide, the cutback fell to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the box, and he curled a gorgeous left-foot strike into the far top corner for 3–0. Pickford had no chance; he just watched it sail in.
But he wasn’t done. On a counter-attack that felt almost cruel, Foden drove forward, slipped Haaland through again, and the Norwegian smashed home his fourth of the night with a rising rocket into the roof of the net. Goal: Erling Haaland, Assist: Phil Foden. That made it 5–0 and capped one of those ridiculous stat-padding days every Golden Boot rival fears.
At the same time, Everton get dragged deeper into the survival mess. Conceding five doesn’t just hurt confidence, it wrecks their goal difference, which could be massive if the relegation scrap goes to the final day.
In Spain, Real Madrid kept their momentum rolling. Jude Bellingham was at it again, scoring a late winner with a composed finish from inside the box after a slick one-two with Vinícius Júnior. Goal: Jude Bellingham, Assist: Vinícius Júnior. The English star just lives for the big moment – once more, hero, not flop.
Over in France, Paris Saint-Germain saw Kylian Mbappé do exactly what you expect: cutting in from the left and firing in a trademark curler. But the story there was a controversial VAR call ruling out what would have been his second. The stadium erupted when the goal was chalked off for a fractional offside in the build-up – the social feeds are already loaded with freeze-frames and furious comments.
And of course, every other post seems to show De Bruyne’s passes from a new angle. You know a performance is special when people are making slow-mo edits five minutes after full-time.
From where I'm sitting, nights like this make City feel inevitable. If they keep this version of Haaland and De Bruyne fit, every other contender is in trouble. On the flip side, Everton can’t just shrug this off – shipping five is one thing, but looking this outclassed is another. Sean Dyche needs a reaction, fast, or the relegation noise is going to get louder.
For now, though, the big story is simple: Haaland is back terrorising defences, De Bruyne is dealing out pain from midfield, and the title race just got a jolt of pure chaos.
This is the sort of night where you grab your phone, spam the group chat, and scream: "Did you see that??" Because this wasn't just a routine win – this was a title-race statement, a flex, a warning to everyone above them in the football league table.
Man City 5–0 Everton – Haaland Unleashed, De Bruyne Conducting
Pep Guardiola rolled out his heavy artillery and it paid off in brutal style. The flood started early. After a cagey first few minutes, Erling Haaland opened the scoring, bullying his marker to meet a delicious Kevin De Bruyne cross and thumping a header past Jordan Pickford for 1–0. Classic Haaland: one touch, one finish, zero mercy.The second goal was pure City art. De Bruyne dropped into the half-space, slid a filthy reverse pass between two defenders, and Haaland pounced again. One touch out of his feet, second touch laced low into the corner: 2–0. Assist: Kevin De Bruyne, Goal: Erling Haaland. Everton’s back line looked like they were trying to defend in quicksand.
Just before half-time, it got worse for the Toffees. A quick combination between Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva dragged Everton wide, the cutback fell to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the box, and he curled a gorgeous left-foot strike into the far top corner for 3–0. Pickford had no chance; he just watched it sail in.
Second-Half Chaos: VAR Drama and a Haaland Avalanche
Early in the second half, the Etihad had a brief VAR heart-in-mouth moment. Haaland thought he’d completed his hat-trick with a close-range tap-in from another De Bruyne ball. The flag went up, and VAR checked for offside. Replays showed Haaland level by a boot lace – verdict: GOAL STANDS. Hat-trick confirmed, Haaland grinning, Everton defenders fuming. 4–0, and the beast was officially out of the cage.But he wasn’t done. On a counter-attack that felt almost cruel, Foden drove forward, slipped Haaland through again, and the Norwegian smashed home his fourth of the night with a rising rocket into the roof of the net. Goal: Erling Haaland, Assist: Phil Foden. That made it 5–0 and capped one of those ridiculous stat-padding days every Golden Boot rival fears.
Big Names Report Card: Heroes & No-Shows
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – Four goals, monstrous movement, and that mix of power and precision that makes him unfair. On another planet today.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) – Two assists, but that barely tells the story. His passing ripped Everton apart. Every time he got the ball, you could feel the panic in the away end.
- Phil Foden (Manchester City) – Not just tricks and flicks; real end product. One assist, constant threat between the lines, dragged Everton’s shape all over the place.
- Jordan Pickford (Everton) – Conceded five, but also made several massive saves. Without him, this could honestly have been seven or eight.
What This Means for the Premier League Table
This result tightens the top end of the Premier League live battle. City’s goal difference just got a huge bump, and in a title race that looks like it could go to the wire, that matters almost as much as the three points. The pressure is now firmly back on their rivals – drop anything this weekend and those five City goals are going to feel extra heavy.At the same time, Everton get dragged deeper into the survival mess. Conceding five doesn’t just hurt confidence, it wrecks their goal difference, which could be massive if the relegation scrap goes to the final day.
What does this mean for the title race? After tonight, the numbers tell an even spicier story. Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Today's Soccer Games
Across Europe, other giants were also busy writing headlines in today's soccer games.In Spain, Real Madrid kept their momentum rolling. Jude Bellingham was at it again, scoring a late winner with a composed finish from inside the box after a slick one-two with Vinícius Júnior. Goal: Jude Bellingham, Assist: Vinícius Júnior. The English star just lives for the big moment – once more, hero, not flop.
Over in France, Paris Saint-Germain saw Kylian Mbappé do exactly what you expect: cutting in from the left and firing in a trademark curler. But the story there was a controversial VAR call ruling out what would have been his second. The stadium erupted when the goal was chalked off for a fractional offside in the build-up – the social feeds are already loaded with freeze-frames and furious comments.
Social Media Spotlight – Fans Lose It Over Haaland & VAR
The internet has completely melted down over two things: Haaland’s four-goal rampage and that offside VAR check that nearly stole one from him. City fans are hammering X with highlight clips and memes, while neutrals argue whether this was peak Haaland or just Everton defending in Sunday-league mode.And of course, every other post seems to show De Bruyne’s passes from a new angle. You know a performance is special when people are making slow-mo edits five minutes after full-time.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans arguing if Haaland's four-goal haul was helped by VAR or just pure dominance
My Take: This Was a Title-Race Warning Shot
Let’s be real: this felt like Manchester City flipping the “serious mode” switch. Haaland looked sharper than he has in weeks, De Bruyne was playing passes most players can’t even see, and the whole thing had that ruthless, inevitable City vibe from their most dominant seasons.From where I'm sitting, nights like this make City feel inevitable. If they keep this version of Haaland and De Bruyne fit, every other contender is in trouble. On the flip side, Everton can’t just shrug this off – shipping five is one thing, but looking this outclassed is another. Sean Dyche needs a reaction, fast, or the relegation noise is going to get louder.
What's Next?
We've got more Premier League live drama coming, and the Champions League news cycle is about to crank up again with knockout ties looming. If City carry this form into Europe, nobody is going to want to see that sky-blue shirt in the draw.For now, though, the big story is simple: Haaland is back terrorising defences, De Bruyne is dealing out pain from midfield, and the title race just got a jolt of pure chaos.
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.
