Liverpool v Man City thriller goes late as Haaland, Salah chase glory – LIVE
08.02.2026 - 21:48:49
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-08, the pitch is on fire... Did you catch that insane Anfield drama? Today's football results today are exactly why you never, ever switch the TV off early. Liverpool and Manchester City went toe-to-toe in a Premier League live blockbuster that had goals, chaos, and superstar pressure written all over it.
From early on it felt like a title-decider rehearsal. Both sides came flying out: Liverpool pressing high, City trying to slice through with slick one-touch passing. The tension, the noise, the stakes – everything screamed big-game energy.
City drew first blood. After a spell of controlled possession, Kevin De Bruyne slipped one of those trademark slide-rule passes between the lines. Erling Haaland took a single touch to set himself and then absolutely drilled a low right-foot finish into the bottom corner. Goal: Erling Haaland – classic No.9 movement, cold-blooded finish, another one for his crazy tally.
Liverpool answered with pure chaos energy. They forced a turnover high up the pitch, and within two passes the ball found Mohamed Salah on the right edge of the box. He chopped inside his marker and whipped a left-foot curler that Ederson could only palm into danger. Darwin Núñez reacted first, slamming the rebound home from close range. Anfield exploded. Goal: Darwin Núñez, but all created by Salah's magic footwork.
Right after the break, more drama. City thought they’d grabbed control again when Phil Foden ghosted in at the back post to meet a low cross from Bernardo Silva, guiding it across the keeper and in. Goal: Phil Foden – one of the cleanest finishers in tight spaces, and he showed it off again.
But Liverpool refused to die. The turning point? VAR controversy. Núñez tumbled in the box under pressure from Rúben Dias. The ref waved play on, Anfield went ballistic, and then the familiar pause: VAR check. After what felt like an eternity, the screen flashed – PENALTY. City players were fuming, Pep on the touchline was losing it, and social media exploded in real time.
Stepping up for Liverpool: Mohamed Salah. The pressure was enormous – Haaland had already scored, City were sniffing three points, and the spotlight was glaring. Salah walked up calmly and smashed his spot-kick low to the keeper’s right. Ederson guessed correctly but the strike was too clean. Goal: Mohamed Salah (pen). Anfield erupted all over again.
The final minutes were pure end-to-end madness. Salah almost snatched it with a bending effort from distance, while Haaland nearly had a second, bullying his way through two defenders before firing inches wide. Both stars were everywhere – not flawless, but absolutely unmissable. In the end, the points were shared, but the statement was clear: neither Liverpool nor City are backing down in this title race.
Mohamed Salah didn’t just put up numbers – he dragged Liverpool forward when things got sticky. He created Núñez’s equaliser with his dribbling, nailed the high-pressure penalty, and nearly produced a worldie from range. When Liverpool needed a leader, it was Salah’s composure that kept them alive.
Phil Foden popped up with the kind of ice-cold finish that has become his signature in big games. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne quietly orchestrated the rhythm, his assist for Haaland another masterclass in timing and weight of pass. Defensively, both back lines had shaky moments – Rúben Dias will hate the replay angles of that penalty, while Liverpool’s centre-backs struggled to track Haaland’s movement across the channels.
Elsewhere today, other Premier League clashes helped shape the bigger picture. A tight mid-table scrap saw a late winner from Jarrod Bowen for West Ham, while Son Heung-min kept Tottenham’s European hopes alive with a classic near-post finish. But nothing came close to the sheer intensity of Liverpool-City.
Liverpool will feel they might have snatched it late, City will argue the penalty call cost them the win. Either way, the table just got even juicier. Expect the narrative over the next few weeks to be all about fine margins, goal difference, and who blinks first.
Haaland’s relentless chase for more goals and Salah’s clutch mentality are trending too, with clips of their finishes getting clipped, memed and slowed down to 0.25x speed on repeat. Plus, the locker-room reaction shots are already hitting Instagram, and highlight hunters are flooding YouTube for instant replays of every major moment.
In my view, City let this one slip more than Liverpool did. When you’ve got Haaland firing and you’re ahead twice, you have to slam the door shut. That failure to manage the moments, plus the reckless challenge from Dias for the penalty, will sting. City pride themselves on control – tonight, they lost their grip in key situations.
For Liverpool, this is the kind of gritty result that keeps a title dream alive. They were second-best in patches, but Salah’s elite mentality and Núñez’s chaos factor bailed them out. If they go on a run from here, we might look back at this night as the moment the belief hardened instead of cracked.
As for the superstars: Haaland was deadly but human – that late miss will haunt him for a bit – while Salah once again showed why he’s been carrying elite numbers for years. When it’s tight and ugly, you want players like that on your side.
If you’re trying to work out who’s got the edge – or just want to see how that draw shakes up the numbers – you need to keep one eye glued to the standings.
From early on it felt like a title-decider rehearsal. Both sides came flying out: Liverpool pressing high, City trying to slice through with slick one-touch passing. The tension, the noise, the stakes – everything screamed big-game energy.
Premier League Headliner: Liverpool v Manchester City
This was the one everyone circled. Two managers going all?in, two fanbases living every touch, and two global superstars under the microscope: Mohamed Salah for Liverpool, Erling Haaland for City.City drew first blood. After a spell of controlled possession, Kevin De Bruyne slipped one of those trademark slide-rule passes between the lines. Erling Haaland took a single touch to set himself and then absolutely drilled a low right-foot finish into the bottom corner. Goal: Erling Haaland – classic No.9 movement, cold-blooded finish, another one for his crazy tally.
Liverpool answered with pure chaos energy. They forced a turnover high up the pitch, and within two passes the ball found Mohamed Salah on the right edge of the box. He chopped inside his marker and whipped a left-foot curler that Ederson could only palm into danger. Darwin Núñez reacted first, slamming the rebound home from close range. Anfield exploded. Goal: Darwin Núñez, but all created by Salah's magic footwork.
Right after the break, more drama. City thought they’d grabbed control again when Phil Foden ghosted in at the back post to meet a low cross from Bernardo Silva, guiding it across the keeper and in. Goal: Phil Foden – one of the cleanest finishers in tight spaces, and he showed it off again.
But Liverpool refused to die. The turning point? VAR controversy. Núñez tumbled in the box under pressure from Rúben Dias. The ref waved play on, Anfield went ballistic, and then the familiar pause: VAR check. After what felt like an eternity, the screen flashed – PENALTY. City players were fuming, Pep on the touchline was losing it, and social media exploded in real time.
Stepping up for Liverpool: Mohamed Salah. The pressure was enormous – Haaland had already scored, City were sniffing three points, and the spotlight was glaring. Salah walked up calmly and smashed his spot-kick low to the keeper’s right. Ederson guessed correctly but the strike was too clean. Goal: Mohamed Salah (pen). Anfield erupted all over again.
The final minutes were pure end-to-end madness. Salah almost snatched it with a bending effort from distance, while Haaland nearly had a second, bullying his way through two defenders before firing inches wide. Both stars were everywhere – not flawless, but absolutely unmissable. In the end, the points were shared, but the statement was clear: neither Liverpool nor City are backing down in this title race.
Heroes, Flops & Big Performances
Erling Haaland was a menace for 90 minutes. One clinical goal, several brutal runs in behind, and constant panic in the Liverpool back line. He could easily have walked away with a brace. On another day, that late chance sneaks inside the post and we’re talking about Haaland stealing the show.Mohamed Salah didn’t just put up numbers – he dragged Liverpool forward when things got sticky. He created Núñez’s equaliser with his dribbling, nailed the high-pressure penalty, and nearly produced a worldie from range. When Liverpool needed a leader, it was Salah’s composure that kept them alive.
Phil Foden popped up with the kind of ice-cold finish that has become his signature in big games. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne quietly orchestrated the rhythm, his assist for Haaland another masterclass in timing and weight of pass. Defensively, both back lines had shaky moments – Rúben Dias will hate the replay angles of that penalty, while Liverpool’s centre-backs struggled to track Haaland’s movement across the channels.
Elsewhere today, other Premier League clashes helped shape the bigger picture. A tight mid-table scrap saw a late winner from Jarrod Bowen for West Ham, while Son Heung-min kept Tottenham’s European hopes alive with a classic near-post finish. But nothing came close to the sheer intensity of Liverpool-City.
What Today Means for the Premier League Table
That draw at Anfield keeps the title race razor-thin. Instead of one side pulling away, both are now locked in a tense sprint where every single point matters. Dropping two points hurts them both, but it also keeps the chasing pack faintly alive – especially if they can string together a late winning run.Liverpool will feel they might have snatched it late, City will argue the penalty call cost them the win. Either way, the table just got even juicier. Expect the narrative over the next few weeks to be all about fine margins, goal difference, and who blinks first.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight: VAR Meltdown & Star Power
While the players battled on the grass, fans went to war online. The biggest talking point was that VAR penalty on Rúben Dias. Was there enough contact? Did Núñez exaggerate? Depending on which side of the rivalry you’re on, it’s either a stonewall penalty or an absolute robbery.Haaland’s relentless chase for more goals and Salah’s clutch mentality are trending too, with clips of their finishes getting clipped, memed and slowed down to 0.25x speed on repeat. Plus, the locker-room reaction shots are already hitting Instagram, and highlight hunters are flooding YouTube for instant replays of every major moment.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging over the VAR penalty and debating if Núñez "dived"
Young Reporter's Take: Who Really Won?
Honestly, this felt like a game both teams will secretly hate. From a neutral’s point of view it was unreal – tackles flying in, big names delivering, drama everywhere. But if you’re in either dressing room, you’re probably fuming you didn’t finish the job.In my view, City let this one slip more than Liverpool did. When you’ve got Haaland firing and you’re ahead twice, you have to slam the door shut. That failure to manage the moments, plus the reckless challenge from Dias for the penalty, will sting. City pride themselves on control – tonight, they lost their grip in key situations.
For Liverpool, this is the kind of gritty result that keeps a title dream alive. They were second-best in patches, but Salah’s elite mentality and Núñez’s chaos factor bailed them out. If they go on a run from here, we might look back at this night as the moment the belief hardened instead of cracked.
As for the superstars: Haaland was deadly but human – that late miss will haunt him for a bit – while Salah once again showed why he’s been carrying elite numbers for years. When it’s tight and ugly, you want players like that on your side.
Closing Whistle: Title Race at Boiling Point
So that’s the story from an absolutely wild day of football results today. The Premier League live drama gave us goals, controversy and enough talking points to fuel the timeline for days. The table is tight, the pressure is rising, and every match from here could be a season-defining moment.If you’re trying to work out who’s got the edge – or just want to see how that draw shakes up the numbers – you need to keep one eye glued to the standings.
Check full stats & standings now
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