Liverpool v Man City live: Anfield thriller shakes up Premier League title race
08.02.2026 - 06:34:03
Premier League Live Drama: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City
From the first whistle, you could feel it: this wasn’t going to be a quiet Sunday. Liverpool flew out of the blocks, and it took them just 14 minutes to land the first punch. A sharp move down the right saw Trent Alexander-Arnold slide Mohamed Salah into the box, and the Egyptian king stayed ice cold, drilling a low left-footed finish past Ederson into the far corner. Mohamed Salah 1-0
City, though, are never out of it. On 31 minutes, they stitched together one of those trademark passing moves. Kevin De Bruyne, constantly drifting into half-spaces, picked up the ball 25 yards out and fed Phil Foden between the lines. Foden’s first touch was velvet, his second a rocket – a right-footed drive past Alisson into the top corner. Phil Foden 1-1 and suddenly it was game on again.
The marquee names were under the microscope. Erling Haaland had a night to forget. The Norwegian beast found space only in flashes, and his big moment came just before half-time. De Bruyne whipped in a vicious cross, Haaland lost his marker and met it perfectly, but somehow powered his header against the bar from six yards. You could almost hear the collective gasp. From a guy who usually lives for these moments, it felt like a turning point.
Right after the break, Liverpool smelled blood. In the 52nd minute, Darwin Núñez bullied Rúben Dias off a long ball, powered into the area and forced a desperate lunge from Joško Gvardiol. Down went Núñez, VAR checked for an age, and Anfield held its breath. After a long pause and a look at the screen, the ref pointed to the spot. The stadium exploded as Salah grabbed the ball, stared down Ederson, and smashed the penalty into the roof of the net. Mohamed Salah 2-1, brace complete, and the title race officially on fire.
City pushed higher, leaving space in behind, and Liverpool absolutely feasted on it. In the 78th minute, a rapid counter saw Dominik Szoboszlai race through midfield and slip in Luis Díaz on the left. Díaz cut inside, dropped Kyle Walker with a filthy step-over, and curled a gorgeous right-footed strike inside the far post. Luis Díaz 3-1. That was the knockout punch – a proper screamer and one for the highlight reels.
From there, it was all about game management and suffering. De Bruyne kept trying to unlock the door, Foden buzzed, but Virgil van Dijk turned into a wall. He blocked a late Haaland effort, dominated in the air, and barked instructions non-stop. If Salah was the hero up front, Van Dijk was the general at the back.
As for Haaland? On a night built as the showdown of superstars, he never looked fully switched on. He snatched at a late half-volley, dragged another effort wide, and spent long stretches isolated between Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. For a player chasing the list of top scorers today, this was a rare flop on a massive stage.
Title Race Shockwaves: What the Result Means
So what does this do to the title race? Massive, massive swing. Liverpool’s win yanks them right into the heart of the Premier League live conversation about who actually has the edge heading into the run-in. City, who came into the game with what felt like control, suddenly look vulnerable and a step out of rhythm.
The knock-on effect is brutal: City’s lead shrinks, Liverpool surge up, and everyone else in the chasing pack is now watching this result like hawks. Arsenal, Spurs, whoever’s hanging onto hope – this Anfield explosion changes the dynamic completely.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Across Europe: Champions League Contenders Send Messages
While England was losing its mind at Anfield, the rest of Europe’s giants didn’t exactly sit quietly either. In Spain, Jude Bellingham delivered again for Real Madrid, slotting a calm finish from the edge of the box after a slick one-two with Vinícius Júnior. The English midfielder’s rise is unreal, and in the context of Champions League news, he’s fast becoming the defining midfielder of this era – goals, leadership, swagger, everything.
In France, Kylian Mbappé grabbed a brace for PSG, smashing home a penalty and then bending a signature curler into the far corner after cutting inside from the left. That second goal was pure Mbappé – pace, precision, and a finish that looked almost casual. While the world screams about Premier League chaos, he quietly keeps stacking numbers and reminding everyone who owns Paris.
All across the continent, the big names are shaping the narrative: Bellingham decisive, Mbappé dominant, Salah clutch, Haaland human. That’s today’s soccer news snapshot in one sentence.
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Young Reporter Take: Brutal Truth Time
Here’s my honest take: this felt like a statement night from Liverpool and a worrying wobble from City. Tactically, Liverpool were brave – pressing high, playing direct into Núñez, and giving Salah the freedom to slide into central pockets where City hate defending. Jürgen Klopp (or whoever’s in that dugout now) absolutely nailed the game plan.
For City, I’m not saying the manager is in trouble, but that midfield balance looked off. Whenever Rodri was dragged wide, there was a canyon of space for Liverpool to drive into. The decision to keep Haaland on for the full 90 despite him clearly being off it? Bold, maybe stubborn. Sometimes the aura of a superstar keeps them on the pitch longer than the performance deserves.
Individually, Salah was world-class – big-game mentality, relentless movement, two massive goals. Van Dijk rolled back the years with a commanding display. On the flip side, Dias and Gvardiol looked rattled, and even De Bruyne, despite moments of genius, couldn’t fully drag City out of the storm.
If this is the night we look back on as the moment the title race twisted, it’ll be that Salah penalty and Díaz screamer we remember – plus Haaland smashing the bar when he usually buries it.
And Now? All Eyes on the Table...
The story doesn’t stop at the final whistle. The ripple effect of tonight’s football results today is all over the updated standings. Liverpool’s surge, City’s stumble, and the rest of the league recalibrating what’s possible – it’s all there in black and white.
Check full stats & standings now
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