Last?gasp drama! Liverpool v Man City epic, Haaland fires as title race goes live
22.02.2026 - 16:46:50 | ad-hoc-news.de
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-22, the pitch is on fire... Did you see that Liverpool vs Manchester City classic at Anfield? This is exactly why you live for soccer games. End-to-end chaos, superstar goals, late drama, and a title race that just went into overdrive.
City drew first blood. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy through ball between the lines, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. One touch to steady himself, second touch a low, brutal finish into the bottom corner past Alisson. 1–0 City, Haaland on the scoresheet again, and Liverpool stunned.
But Liverpool’s response was vicious. Just before half-time, they worked it brilliantly down the right. Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged a diagonal into the box, Darwin Núñez nodded it down, and Mohamed Salah pounced on the loose ball to smash home from close range. 1–1, Anfield roaring, Salah screaming into the Kop. The Premier League live drama was absolutely unhinged already.
Second half? Pure chaos. City came out sharper. In the 58th minute, Phil Foden weaved in off the left, drew two defenders, and slid it to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the box. One shimmy, one curling left-foot finish into the far corner – gorgeous. 2–1 City, and Guardiola went wild on the touchline.
Liverpool wouldn’t die, though. Jürgen Klopp threw on fresh legs, pushed the full-backs crazy high, and the pressure finally cracked City in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Luis Díaz drew a foul on the edge of the area. Up stepped Dominik Szoboszlai. Free-kick, 20 yards, right side. He whipped it over the wall, off the underside of the bar, and in. Absolute screamer. 2–2. Anfield shook. Ederson could only stare at the ball in his net.
Mohamed Salah wasn’t just a goal scorer, he was the heartbeat of Liverpool’s attack. Dropping into pockets, spinning Dias, combining with Núñez – he dragged his team back into it when the game was slipping away. Not vintage for 90 straight minutes, but when Liverpool needed a leader, he stepped up.
On the flip side, both defenses were shaky. For Liverpool, miscommunication between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté kept giving City little windows to exploit; the gap for Haaland’s opener was criminal at this level. For City, the usually composed Rúben Dias looked rattled late on, especially under Anfield’s noise – his late lunge on Díaz gave Szoboszlai the chance to equalise from that free-kick.
And then there was the VAR moment that has everyone screaming online. Midway through the second half, Haaland thought he’d made it 3–1 with a close-range tap-in after a De Bruyne cut-back. But VAR pulled it back and ruled De Bruyne marginally offside in the build-up. The lines were out, the replay took ages, and both sets of fans were losing their minds. City fans are calling it robbery, Liverpool fans say it’s justice. Either way, that decision could echo in the title race for weeks.
Liverpool’s point means they’re clinging onto the chasing pack, while City miss a huge chance to stretch clear. Arsenal and the other contenders will be watching this and thinking, "Yep, we’re still alive here." Every slip, every draw, every late equaliser like Szoboszlai’s is shifting the momentum week by week in this football league table.
In Spain, Real Madrid kept their Champions League news headlines rolling with a tight win. Jude Bellingham once again delivered when it mattered, scoring the decisive goal with a late run into the box. Vinícius Júnior broke the deadlock earlier, cutting inside and firing home, before the opponents equalised, only for Bellingham to arrive like a train and slot the winner. He wasn’t flawless – lost the ball a few times deep – but when the stage is big, he just shows up.
In France, Kylian Mbappé put on a show in Ligue 1. Two goals – one bullet finish from the edge of the box and one ice-cold penalty – and he could’ve had a hat-trick. He terrorised defenders one-v-one all night, and his name is all over the top scorers today list again. With form like this, you just know he’s eyeing another deep Champions League run.
From Klopp’s side, Szoboszlai’s winner-level free-kick might just be the moment that reignites their season. You could feel the belief coming back into the stands with every press, every tackle, every counter. This wasn’t just a match report moment; it was a season-defining punch back.
For City, I don’t think this is disaster, but it is a warning. If you let this many big games stay alive into stoppage time, eventually the football gods will punish you. Today, Szoboszlai and Salah made sure they did.
Liverpool 2–2 Manchester City: Heavyweights trading haymakers
You knew this one was going to be wild the moment the teamsheets dropped. Erling Haaland leading the line for City, Mohamed Salah back in Liverpool red at Anfield – all the ingredients for pure fireworks.City drew first blood. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy through ball between the lines, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. One touch to steady himself, second touch a low, brutal finish into the bottom corner past Alisson. 1–0 City, Haaland on the scoresheet again, and Liverpool stunned.
But Liverpool’s response was vicious. Just before half-time, they worked it brilliantly down the right. Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged a diagonal into the box, Darwin Núñez nodded it down, and Mohamed Salah pounced on the loose ball to smash home from close range. 1–1, Anfield roaring, Salah screaming into the Kop. The Premier League live drama was absolutely unhinged already.
Second half? Pure chaos. City came out sharper. In the 58th minute, Phil Foden weaved in off the left, drew two defenders, and slid it to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the box. One shimmy, one curling left-foot finish into the far corner – gorgeous. 2–1 City, and Guardiola went wild on the touchline.
Liverpool wouldn’t die, though. Jürgen Klopp threw on fresh legs, pushed the full-backs crazy high, and the pressure finally cracked City in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Luis Díaz drew a foul on the edge of the area. Up stepped Dominik Szoboszlai. Free-kick, 20 yards, right side. He whipped it over the wall, off the underside of the bar, and in. Absolute screamer. 2–2. Anfield shook. Ederson could only stare at the ball in his net.
Heroes and flops: Haaland delivers, Salah answers, defenses wobble
Erling Haaland was ruthless again – one half-chance, one goal. He bullied Liverpool’s centre-backs all game, pulled them around with his runs, and constantly threatened in behind. He could’ve grabbed a second with a late header that flashed just wide, but even without a brace, he reminded everyone why he’s always near the top scorers today across Europe.Mohamed Salah wasn’t just a goal scorer, he was the heartbeat of Liverpool’s attack. Dropping into pockets, spinning Dias, combining with Núñez – he dragged his team back into it when the game was slipping away. Not vintage for 90 straight minutes, but when Liverpool needed a leader, he stepped up.
On the flip side, both defenses were shaky. For Liverpool, miscommunication between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté kept giving City little windows to exploit; the gap for Haaland’s opener was criminal at this level. For City, the usually composed Rúben Dias looked rattled late on, especially under Anfield’s noise – his late lunge on Díaz gave Szoboszlai the chance to equalise from that free-kick.
And then there was the VAR moment that has everyone screaming online. Midway through the second half, Haaland thought he’d made it 3–1 with a close-range tap-in after a De Bruyne cut-back. But VAR pulled it back and ruled De Bruyne marginally offside in the build-up. The lines were out, the replay took ages, and both sets of fans were losing their minds. City fans are calling it robbery, Liverpool fans say it’s justice. Either way, that decision could echo in the title race for weeks.
How it hits the football league table
So what does this absolute barnburner do to the standings? City stay ahead, but Liverpool keep themselves right in the mix. Instead of City pulling away, this draw keeps the top three bunched together in a ridiculous fight for the crown.Liverpool’s point means they’re clinging onto the chasing pack, while City miss a huge chance to stretch clear. Arsenal and the other contenders will be watching this and thinking, "Yep, we’re still alive here." Every slip, every draw, every late equaliser like Szoboszlai’s is shifting the momentum week by week in this football league table.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League contenders send messages
While England was losing its mind, the rest of Europe stayed loud too.In Spain, Real Madrid kept their Champions League news headlines rolling with a tight win. Jude Bellingham once again delivered when it mattered, scoring the decisive goal with a late run into the box. Vinícius Júnior broke the deadlock earlier, cutting inside and firing home, before the opponents equalised, only for Bellingham to arrive like a train and slot the winner. He wasn’t flawless – lost the ball a few times deep – but when the stage is big, he just shows up.
In France, Kylian Mbappé put on a show in Ligue 1. Two goals – one bullet finish from the edge of the box and one ice-cold penalty – and he could’ve had a hat-trick. He terrorised defenders one-v-one all night, and his name is all over the top scorers today list again. With form like this, you just know he’s eyeing another deep Champions League run.
Social Media Spotlight: the web is melting down
Everyone online is arguing about one thing: that ruled-out Haaland goal and the late Liverpool equaliser. VAR lines, still frames, conspiracy threads – it’s all there. Fans are split between "the game’s gone" and "the right call". Welcome to modern football.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious and fascinated by the VAR offside call on Haaland's disallowed goal
My take: This is title-race chaos, and I’m here for it
In my opinion, this felt like a statement from Liverpool – not because they won, but because they refused to lose. City, for all their control and structured dominance, still can’t completely silence Anfield. Haaland was lethal, De Bruyne top class, but they didn’t kill the game when they had the chance, and it bit them.From Klopp’s side, Szoboszlai’s winner-level free-kick might just be the moment that reignites their season. You could feel the belief coming back into the stands with every press, every tackle, every counter. This wasn’t just a match report moment; it was a season-defining punch back.
For City, I don’t think this is disaster, but it is a warning. If you let this many big games stay alive into stoppage time, eventually the football gods will punish you. Today, Szoboszlai and Salah made sure they did.
What next?
The next few rounds in the Premier League and across Europe are going to be insane. Every slip changes the live picture, every goal from Haaland, Salah, Bellingham, or Mbappé reshapes the narrative. Bookmark the standings and refresh like a maniac, because this ride is just getting started.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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