Haaland Header Chaos & Late Drama: Man City v Liverpool goes wild – live
12.02.2026 - 06:44:39 | ad-hoc-news.de
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-12, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today? You got absolute chaos. Manchester City and Liverpool just ripped up the script in a wild Premier League live showdown that felt like a Champions League knockout tie dropped right into February.
The headline: Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool at the Etihad, a match that swung like a pendulum and left the title race looking way more unstable than it did this morning. Erling Haaland, of course, was in the middle of everything, but he wasn’t alone – Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and a last?minute hero all wanted their page in tonight’s story.
Liverpool, though, didn’t blink. On 25 minutes Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed a diagonal ball into the half?space, Darwin Núñez cushioned it down, and Mohamed Salah did what Mohamed Salah does – opened up his body and curled a left?footer inside the far post. Ederson didn’t even move. 1-1, and suddenly every ball was greeted with a roar.
City hit back again right before half?time. On 42 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne took over. He ghosted between the lines, played a one?two with Bernardo Silva, and lashed a low drive from the edge of the box that clipped the inside of the post on its way in. De Bruyne has been questioned over fitness and form this season, but tonight he looked like vintage KDB – eyes up, passing lasers, and this time on the scoresheet. 2-1 City at the break, and the Etihad bouncing.
Then came the moment that social media is absolutely losing its mind over: the VAR call on a potential Liverpool penalty. On 71 minutes, Díaz drove into the box, collided with Kyle Walker, and hit the turf. The referee initially pointed to the spot, with Liverpool players surrounding him, but after a long VAR check – the kind that seems to last an eternity – the decision was overturned for a very marginal contact. Fans are split: soft? Clear dive? Theft? The replays will be replayed all week.
And just when it felt like both sides might settle for a point, City did what champions do. Deep into stoppage time, a corner swung in by De Bruyne caused chaos at the near post. The ball ricocheted off Núñez, bounced awkwardly, and Julián Álvarez reacted fastest, stabbing home from close range in the 93rd minute. 3-2 City, the stadium exploded, Liverpool players dropped to the ground. Álvarez, the super?sub, the poacher, the match?winner.
Mohamed Salah: If Liverpool had taken anything from this game, Salah would have been the headline. Two clinical finishes, clever movement, and he absolutely terrorised City’s backline when he drifted inside. Even in defeat, he looked world?class and very much in the race for the season’s top scorers today across Europe.
Kevin De Bruyne: This was the De Bruyne City fans have been begging to see regularly again. One goal, one assist from the corner for Álvarez, constant dangerous balls between the lines, and total authority in midfield. When he’s at this level, City look like a different animal entirely.
Defensive flops? Both backlines had shaky moments. For City, Rúben Dias looked uncomfortable under Liverpool’s press. For Liverpool, Ibrahima Konaté had a tough night tracking Haaland and dealing with De Bruyne’s late runs. Alisson, though, did make a couple of big stops to even keep Liverpool in the fight.
Right now, #MCILIV is absolutely everywhere. Clips of the VAR moment are being slowed down, zoomed in, freeze?framed. Liverpool fans are convinced it should have stayed a penalty; City fans are posting screenshots insisting there was barely any contact. Meanwhile, Álvarez’s last?gasp goal and Haaland’s header are already doing numbers in YouTube highlight reels.
For Liverpool, there’s a weird mix of pride and pain. Performance?wise, they were absolutely in it. Salah was lethal, the press was sharp, and they created enough to take something home. But results are everything at this stage of the season, and you can’t keep applauding "brave defeats" while the league table keeps moving without you. If they want to stay in the title conversation, the margin for error is basically gone now.
In my opinion, this kind of game is exactly why the Premier League, week in, week out, still feels like must?watch TV. Haaland scoring, Salah answering, De Bruyne dictating, late?game chaos, VAR controversy – it had every storyline rolled into 90+ minutes.
If you’re trying to figure out exactly where this leaves your team in the mix for the title, top four, or European spots, you need to keep one tab permanently open on the live table.
The headline: Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool at the Etihad, a match that swung like a pendulum and left the title race looking way more unstable than it did this morning. Erling Haaland, of course, was in the middle of everything, but he wasn’t alone – Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and a last?minute hero all wanted their page in tonight’s story.
Football results today: City 3-2 Liverpool – pure madness
From the first whistle this felt like it was being played in fast?forward. City came out pressing high, and it took just 11 minutes for the first punch. Phil Foden wriggled free on the right, clipped in a perfect cross and Erling Haaland bullied his way past his marker to smash a towering header into the top corner. Classic Haaland: one touch, zero mercy, 1-0 City.Liverpool, though, didn’t blink. On 25 minutes Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed a diagonal ball into the half?space, Darwin Núñez cushioned it down, and Mohamed Salah did what Mohamed Salah does – opened up his body and curled a left?footer inside the far post. Ederson didn’t even move. 1-1, and suddenly every ball was greeted with a roar.
City hit back again right before half?time. On 42 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne took over. He ghosted between the lines, played a one?two with Bernardo Silva, and lashed a low drive from the edge of the box that clipped the inside of the post on its way in. De Bruyne has been questioned over fitness and form this season, but tonight he looked like vintage KDB – eyes up, passing lasers, and this time on the scoresheet. 2-1 City at the break, and the Etihad bouncing.
Second?half drama: Salah again, then a last?minute gut punch
If you thought the tempo would drop after half?time, no chance. Liverpool came flying out. On 58 minutes, another bit of pressing chaos triggered the equaliser: Núñez harassed Rúben Dias into a loose pass, Luis Díaz pounced, slipped in Salah, and the Egyptian king coolly slotted under Ederson. Mohamed Salah again – his second of the night, ice?cold in front of goal. 2-2 and suddenly it felt like Anfield had been teleported to Manchester.Then came the moment that social media is absolutely losing its mind over: the VAR call on a potential Liverpool penalty. On 71 minutes, Díaz drove into the box, collided with Kyle Walker, and hit the turf. The referee initially pointed to the spot, with Liverpool players surrounding him, but after a long VAR check – the kind that seems to last an eternity – the decision was overturned for a very marginal contact. Fans are split: soft? Clear dive? Theft? The replays will be replayed all week.
And just when it felt like both sides might settle for a point, City did what champions do. Deep into stoppage time, a corner swung in by De Bruyne caused chaos at the near post. The ball ricocheted off Núñez, bounced awkwardly, and Julián Álvarez reacted fastest, stabbing home from close range in the 93rd minute. 3-2 City, the stadium exploded, Liverpool players dropped to the ground. Álvarez, the super?sub, the poacher, the match?winner.
Heroes and flops: Haaland, Salah, De Bruyne & the big names
Erling Haaland: Not his most dominant overall display, but when the cross came in, he was brutal. One huge goal, a constant physical problem, and he dragged Liverpool’s centre?backs around all night. He missed a decent second?half chance, but that opener set the tone and forced Liverpool to chase.Mohamed Salah: If Liverpool had taken anything from this game, Salah would have been the headline. Two clinical finishes, clever movement, and he absolutely terrorised City’s backline when he drifted inside. Even in defeat, he looked world?class and very much in the race for the season’s top scorers today across Europe.
Kevin De Bruyne: This was the De Bruyne City fans have been begging to see regularly again. One goal, one assist from the corner for Álvarez, constant dangerous balls between the lines, and total authority in midfield. When he’s at this level, City look like a different animal entirely.
Defensive flops? Both backlines had shaky moments. For City, Rúben Dias looked uncomfortable under Liverpool’s press. For Liverpool, Ibrahima Konaté had a tough night tracking Haaland and dealing with De Bruyne’s late runs. Alisson, though, did make a couple of big stops to even keep Liverpool in the fight.
What this does to the football league table
This result is huge. With the win, City jump back to the top of the Premier League, nudging ahead of their title rivals by a razor?thin margin and piling pressure on the chasing pack. Liverpool, after fighting so hard to level it twice, now suddenly feel the heat from behind in the top?four scrap. In a season this tight, those dropped points in the final seconds could haunt them in May.What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Beyond this one game, today’s football results across the top leagues add even more spice: elsewhere in Europe, title contenders are scraping narrow wins, Champions League spots are being fought over like gold, and every point suddenly feels like six.Social Media Spotlight: the Internet melts down over VAR & late drama
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the overturned VAR penalty and that 93rd-minute winner
Reporter’s take: title?winning vibes or papering over cracks?
Honestly, from a young reporter’s seat, this felt like a statement win for City – but not a flawless one. You can’t keep letting a team as ruthless as Liverpool back into games like that and expect to walk to the trophy. City’s midfield quality bailed out a slightly shaky defence tonight, and if they’re serious about dominating both the Premier League and the Champions League, they’ll need to tighten that up fast.For Liverpool, there’s a weird mix of pride and pain. Performance?wise, they were absolutely in it. Salah was lethal, the press was sharp, and they created enough to take something home. But results are everything at this stage of the season, and you can’t keep applauding "brave defeats" while the league table keeps moving without you. If they want to stay in the title conversation, the margin for error is basically gone now.
In my opinion, this kind of game is exactly why the Premier League, week in, week out, still feels like must?watch TV. Haaland scoring, Salah answering, De Bruyne dictating, late?game chaos, VAR controversy – it had every storyline rolled into 90+ minutes.
Closing whistle: what’s next?
So, today’s football results today blow the top of the title race wide open again. City grab the points, Liverpool lick their wounds, and the rest of the league watches knowing their margin for error just shrank. With so many fixtures still to come and European nights on the horizon, this feels like just the first big twist of the run?in, not the last.If you’re trying to figure out exactly where this leaves your team in the mix for the title, top four, or European spots, you need to keep one tab permanently open on the live table.
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.
Anzeige
Die Kurse spielen verrückt – oder folgen sie nur Mustern, die du noch nicht kennst?
Emotionale Kurzschlussreaktionen auf unruhige Märkte kosten dich bares Geld. Vertraue bei deiner Geldanlage stattdessen auf kühle Analysen und harte Fakten. Seit 2005 navigiert 'trading-notes' Anleger mit präzisen Handlungsempfehlungen sicher durch jede Marktphase. Hol dir dreimal pro Woche unaufgeregte Experten-Strategien in dein Postfach.
100% kostenlos. 100% Expertenwissen. Jetzt abonnieren.
