Liverpool stun City in late thriller as Haaland fires but Salah steals show – Live
04.02.2026 - 07:16:40
This wasn’t just another fixture on the calendar – this felt like May in February. Goals flying in, stars stepping up, stars disappearing, and a finish that had every fan on their feet, screaming at their TV.
Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City – Anfield turns into a madhouse
Manchester City actually landed the first punch. On 19 minutes, Erling Haaland did exactly what Erling Haaland does. Kevin De Bruyne slipped a vicious ball between the lines, Haaland bullied his marker, opened his body and drilled a low left-foot finish into the far corner. 0–1 City, and it felt like the machine was rolling again.
Liverpool, though, refused to fold. On 33 minutes, Anfield ignited. Mohamed Salah peeled off into that familiar right half-space, combined with Dominik Szoboszlai, and when the ball broke loose at the edge of the area, Salah absolutely lashed a left-foot rocket into the top corner past Ederson. 1–1, net almost ripped off, Kop in meltdown.
Right on the stroke of half-time came the first massive flashpoint. City thought they’d gone ahead when Phil Foden poked home after Julián Álvarez’s deflected shot fell kindly in the six-yard box. But VAR stepped in: Álvarez had strayed just offside in the build-up. Goal ruled out, Liverpool fans roaring like they’d scored themselves, City players fuming at the monitor. That disallowed Foden strike is already the hot topic all over socials.
Second half: Núñez chaos mode, Haaland human, Salah ice-cold
City came out fast after the break and got their reward. On 56 minutes, De Bruyne swung in a trademark whipped free-kick from the left, and this time Rúben Dias thundered in front of everyone to glance a header into the far corner. 1–2 City, and for a spell it looked like vintage, ruthless Guardiola control.
But then Liverpool’s agent of chaos entered full beast mode: Darwin Núñez. On 68 minutes, Liverpool broke at speed, Salah drove at the backline and slipped a perfectly weighted pass between Dias and Aké. Núñez burst through, took one touch, and smashed a right-footed strike high past Ederson. 2–2, limbs everywhere, Jürgen Klopp’s technical area turning into a sprint track.
From there, the game cracked open. Haaland had a golden chance on 74 minutes – one-on-one after a slick City move – but Alisson stood tall and blocked his low effort with a strong right hand. For once, the Norwegian cyborg looked… human. A couple of heavy touches, a few frustrated gestures – he scored, but he didn’t dominate.
The winner: Salah to Núñez… again
The decisive blow landed on 88 minutes and it was devastating for City. Liverpool recycled a corner, Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped in a clever diagonal, and the ball eventually dropped to Salah at the edge of the box. Instead of shooting, he produced a filthy disguised reverse pass into space behind Kyle Walker. Guess who was there? Darwin Núñez, timing his run perfectly, slotting low across Ederson into the far corner. 3–2 Liverpool. Bedlam. Núñez wheeled away to the corner flag, sliding on his knees as the entire bench emptied.
Salah ended the night with one goal and two assists, playing like a man on a mission. Haaland got his 19th league goal of the season, but as the game stretched, he faded. In the superstar battle, tonight the Egyptian King absolutely took the crown.
What this does to the Premier League title race
This result is massive. Liverpool jump above City in the football league table and crank the pressure up on everyone chasing the title. City’s usually untouchable aura looks a little cracked – conceding three, losing control late, and relying on moments instead of suffocating dominance.
Meanwhile, other soccer games added more spice. Arsenal ground out a 2–0 win with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, keeping themselves right in the mix. But the statement result, the one everyone’s talking about, is absolutely Liverpool 3–2 Man City.
Want to see exactly how this shakes up the table, from top scorers today to who’s slipping towards mid-table misery?
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Star power check-in: Heroes & flops
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Outrageous. One screamer, two killer assists, endless running. Every time Liverpool broke, he looked like he was about to decide the game. Pure world-class.
- Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) – The wild card turned match winner. Two goals, constant chaos, bullied City’s centre-backs and never stopped making those aggressive runs in behind.
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – Clinical early strike, but the overall influence dipped. He’ll still grab the headlines for scoring, but today he was second-best to Salah on the big stage.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – Gorgeous assist for Dias, sprayed passes all over, but couldn’t grab total control once Liverpool turned the game into a track meet.
Social Media Spotlight – the web is melting down
As soon as the final whistle went, timelines exploded. Everyone’s arguing about that ruled-out Phil Foden goal, Núñez’s redemption arc, and whether this is the night Salah re-planted his flag as the league’s biggest big-game player.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
My take: This felt like a power shift
Let’s be honest: City have owned this era, but tonight they looked rattled. In my opinion, this was more than just three points – this was Liverpool sending a message that they’re absolutely back in the conversation as the team nobody wants to see in a decisive game.
Klopp trusted Núñez and got paid back in full. The Uruguayan looked like the raw, unstoppable version everyone imagined when he first arrived. On the flip side, Guardiola’s game management will face huge questions – sitting a bit deeper late on, inviting pressure, and not finding a way to calm the chaos once Anfield started roaring.
Salah, though… that’s the headline. When the stage gets biggest, some players shrink. Salah just goes supernova. That combination of composure, work rate and pure killer instinct is exactly why he’s still in any conversation about the best attacker on the planet.
What's next – and where to get the full picture
From top scorers today to who’s creeping up the football league table, this round of Premier League action has thrown petrol on the title race. If this is the tone for the rest of the season, buckle up – it’s going to be absolutely wild.
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.
