Liverpool v Man City goes wild: Salah, Haaland & title race LIVE
03.02.2026 - 16:49:21
Premier League Fire: Liverpool v Man City steals the show
This was the one everyone circled. Title rivals, superstar forwards, and a table so tight every point feels like gold dust. From the first whistle, it was pure electricity.
Manchester City struck first. After a slick passing move down the right, Kevin De Bruyne slipped a ridiculous threaded ball into the box, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does: one touch to set, one touch to smash low past the keeper. City 1–0, Haaland on the scoresheet again, and the away end exploding.
Liverpool didn’t blink. They cranked the press up to insane levels and got their reward when Darwin Núñez bullied his way between the centre-backs to nod in a whipped cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Núñez’s header was all power and pure attitude – exactly the kind of moment that swings momentum at Anfield.
The stadium reached boiling point just before half-time. City failed to clear a corner, the ball dropped to Mohamed Salah on the edge of the box, and he curled a left-foot rocket into the far top corner. The net barely moved – that’s how clean it was. Anfield erupted, Salah slid into the corner, and suddenly the Football results today headline looked like it belonged to Liverpool’s king.
Second-half drama: VAR, Haaland, and nerves of steel
City hauled themselves back into it after the break. De Bruyne, again the architect, drove through midfield and found Phil Foden wide left. Foden cut inside and drilled a shot that was parried, but Haaland pounced on the rebound and tapped in from close range. Two for Haaland, and every Liverpool defender staring at each other like, "How do you stop this guy?"
Then came the big talking point – the moment social media absolutely exploded. With the game at 2–2, a City attack ended with the ball bouncing up onto a Liverpool defender’s arm inside the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot, but after a long, tense VAR check, the decision was overturned for what looked like the slightest deflection off the defender’s chest first. City players fumed, the away fans lost it, and X/Twitter went instantly nuclear.
As both sides chased a winner, the stars kept swinging. Salah stayed dangerous on the break, nearly setting up Núñez again with a cut-back that was cleared in desperation. On the other side, Haaland battered the centre-backs all night, winning duels, occupying two men at a time, and forcing saves with a late header that looked destined for the corner.
De Bruyne’s class was obvious – line-breaking passes, dictating tempo, slipping Haaland in repeatedly – but Liverpool’s big guns answered. Salah’s hold-up play, quick feet, and constant movement kept City honest, while Trent’s passing and overlapping runs gave Liverpool an extra creative spark. In the end, both managers went for it, but neither found the killer blow, and the game finished as a breathless, high-octane draw.
Stars under the spotlight: Heroes, nearly-men, and flops
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – Two goals, constant presence, and once again the most ruthless finisher on the pitch. Not his fault City didn’t win; he did his job and then some.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – One stunning goal, another game where he drags Liverpool up a level. On the ball he looked untouchable at points, and his strike will be replayed for days.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – Two assists and the brain behind pretty much everything dangerous City did. If you’re talking top scorers today influencing matches beyond goals, De Bruyne’s name is right there.
- Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) – Scored a huge equaliser, ran the channels, fought every duel. Raw at times, but his energy changed the mood of the match.
Some of the supposed supporting cast didn’t fully step up. City’s full-backs looked shaky whenever Salah or Núñez isolated them, and Liverpool’s midfield occasionally got pulled all over the place by De Bruyne’s movement. But ultimately, this one was all about the superstars delivering under maximum pressure.
What this does to the table and title race
This draw keeps the title race ridiculously tight. City missed a chance to pull clear, while Liverpool might look back and feel they let two points slip at home, especially after Salah’s wonder goal had them ahead.
In terms of the football league table, the point apiece means the gap at the top is still razor thin, with both clubs locked into a proper sprint to the finish. Goal difference, head-to-head, and tiny margins like that VAR call today could be what decides it all come the final day.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Around Europe: Champions League contenders tuning up
Elsewhere in the big soccer news cycle, several Champions League hopefuls used today’s fixtures to fine-tune their form. Real Madrid’s attack once again revolved around Jude Bellingham, who pulled strings from midfield and got on the scoresheet with a late arriving run and cool finish inside the box. Across in France, Kylian Mbappé did what he always does: burned defenders for pace and buried a low shot from the left side of the area after cutting in on his right foot.
Both Bellingham and Mbappé looked every inch like players ready to dominate the Champions League news cycle when knockout football returns. No flops there – that’s pure superstar mode.
Social Media Spotlight: the internet melts down over VAR
If you’re looking for the true "live" reaction, it’s all happening online. The official match hashtag is raging, with clips of the overturned penalty decision being slowed down, zoomed in, and argued over from every angle.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the overturned VAR penalty in #LIVMCI
From clips of Salah’s screamer to endless freeze-frames of the handball shout, this is the game everyone’s talking about. The top scorers today are all over timelines, but that one decision inside the box has become the hot topic, dividing fans and even some pundits.
Reporter’s take: this felt like a title decider, even without a winner
Honestly, this didn’t feel like "just" another league game – it felt like a mini-final dropped right in the middle of the season. The quality, the intensity, the pressure on every touch… that’s what elite-level football is supposed to look like.
In my opinion, City will be more annoyed with the draw. Any time Haaland bags a brace and De Bruyne is cooking like that, they expect three points. At the same time, Liverpool had the lead, had the crowd, and had Salah in full superstar mode – so there’s definitely a sense of "what if" around Anfield too.
If we’re talking managers, neither should be sleeping easy. Both sides showed they can be got at defensively, and you can bet the analysts will be pausing a lot of clips tomorrow morning. But for neutral fans? Absolute treat. This is why you chase Premier League live coverage and keep refreshing Football results today – moments like this are the reason.
Closing whistle: title race stays insane
So, no knockout punch in this heavyweight clash, but the aftershocks are going to be felt for weeks. Haaland and Salah padded their numbers, the match report pages are packed with big moments and controversy, and the title race is still too close to call.
If you care about where this leaves your team in the football league table – whether you’re dreaming of the title, chasing Europe, or sweating relegation – you need to keep an eye on the updated standings.
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.
