Liverpool v Man City thriller lights up title race live as Haaland strikes
07.02.2026 - 16:28:03
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City – Salah and Díaz flip the script
This was billed as the game that could tilt the Premier League live title race, and wow, it delivered. Manchester City actually struck first: in the 18th minute, Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy ball between the lines, Haaland muscled past Virgil van Dijk and buried a low left?footed finish past Alisson. One touch to set, one to kill. 0-1 City, and the away end exploded.
Liverpool didn't panic. They cranked up the press and turned Anfield into a pressure cooker. In the 34th minute, it paid off. Darwin Núñez bullied Rúben Dias into a mistake, slipped it wide to Mohamed Salah, and the Egyptian King bent an outrageous curler into the far top corner. Ederson got fingertips but nowhere near enough. 1-1, Salah on the scoresheet again, and the noise hit a new level.
The winner? Pure chaos. On 72 minutes, a wild scramble from a corner saw the ball drop to Luis Díaz on the edge of the box. One silky touch, one snap shot through a forest of legs, deflecting off Manuel Akanji and wrong?footing Ederson. 2-1 Liverpool. Díaz went full knee?slide towards the Kop, Salah leapt on his back, and Pep Guardiola just stood there frozen, arms folded, absolutely fuming.
Stars under the spotlight: heroes & flops
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – A goal, constant menace, living between the lines and roasting Joško Gvardiol repeatedly. He also slipped Núñez through for a one?on?one that the Uruguayan smashed into the side?netting. Hero status secured tonight.
- Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – The matchwinner. His goal might go down as season?defining if Liverpool lift the trophy. Tracked back like crazy, too, doubling up with Andy Robertson to keep Bernardo Silva quiet.
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – He scores, that's what he does. The opener was trademark Haaland: power, timing, ice?cold finishing. But after the break, Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté tightened the screws. Haaland barely got a sniff in the last half hour.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – The assist for Haaland was pixel?perfect, but he faded when Liverpool started winning the midfield scrap. A couple of over?hit crosses late on summed up City's frustration.
VAR drama and a huge penalty shout
The hot moment everyone's raging about came on 80 minutes. City screamed for a penalty when Haaland tangled with Konaté in the box. Initially, the ref pointed to the spot, but VAR dragged him to the monitor. After a long, long look, the decision was overturned – replays showed Haaland with a sneaky shirt pull first. Liverpool fans loved it, City fans absolutely did not.
To add salt to the wounds, seconds later Liverpool nearly made it 3-1 when Dominik Szoboszlai lashed a long?range rocket that Ederson fingertipped onto the bar. The last ten minutes were pure siege mode: City tossing in crosses, De Bruyne on every set piece, but Van Dijk headed away everything like it was his personal mission.
What this does to the Premier League live title race
This result hits like a thunderbolt for the football league table. With these three points, Liverpool leapfrog City at the top, nudging ahead in what was basically a neck?and?neck sprint. City suddenly go from hunters to being the ones scrambling to keep up, with Arsenal lurking right behind both of them.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham & Mbappé keep the spotlight
Real Madrid 3-1 Valencia – Bellingham back on the scoresheet
Over in La Liga, Jude Bellingham reminded everyone why he's the face of modern midfielders. Real Madrid cruised to a 3-1 win over Valencia, with Bellingham bagging the opener. In the 22nd minute, Vinícius Júnior danced down the left, squared it, and Bellingham arrived late to side?foot home. Classic box?crashing goal.
Vinícius Júnior made it 2-0 just before halftime, cutting inside and smashing one near?post past the keeper. After the break, Rodrygo curled in a gorgeous third from the edge of the box. Valencia pulled one back through Hugo Duro, but it never really felt close.
Bellingham didn't just score; he bossed the tempo. Spreading play, dropping deep, barking instructions like a veteran. No flop energy here – just pure star power keeping Real right in the Champions League news conversation and on top of La Liga.
PSG 2-0 Lyon – Mbappé decides it in a flash
In Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé did what Mbappé always seems to do in big domestic games: shut it down early. PSG beat Lyon 2-0 at the Parc des Princes, with Mbappé scoring both.
- On 14 minutes, he latched onto a slide?rule pass from Vitinha, burned two defenders, and slotted calmly into the far corner.
- On 39 minutes, he won and converted a penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way with that trademark stutter?step run?up.
Second half? Pure control. Mbappé could've had a hat?trick, skying one big chance over the bar, but by then the damage was done. Lyon offered flashes, but Donnarumma was solid and PSG's back line barely broke a sweat. Hero performance from Mbappé, zero drama.
Top scorers today & who owned the spotlight
Across the big leagues, the names lighting up the scoresheet today were:
- Mohamed Salah – 1 huge goal vs Man City, changing the whole vibe of the title race.
- Luis Díaz – Match?winning strike for Liverpool, plus relentless pressing.
- Erling Haaland – One clinical finish, but not enough to drag City over the line.
- Jude Bellingham – Goal + midfield masterclass for Real Madrid.
- Kylian Mbappé – A brace for PSG, casually deciding another league game.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over that late VAR penalty overturn on Haaland
Reporter's Take: this felt like a title swing
Here's my honest take: this felt massive. Liverpool weren't perfect, but they were hungry, nasty in the press, and fearless going forward. Salah looked like the best player on the pitch when it mattered, Díaz played like a man possessed, and Van Dijk absolutely refused to let Haaland ruin his night twice.
City, meanwhile, looked a touch tired, a touch predictable. You can't rely on Haaland to bail you out every single time, and when De Bruyne's influence dips, the whole machine loses a gear. Pep's subs came late, the shape didn't fully click, and you could feel the frustration dripping off the touchline.
In my opinion, this is the kind of result that can shake a manager, too. Not "sack Pep" levels, obviously, but definitely a wake?up call that the rest of the league isn't just going to roll over. Liverpool sent a message tonight: Anfield is still a nightmare, and if you blink, they punish you.
What's next?
From a pure football results today perspective, this might go down as the night the title race really caught fire. City now have zero margin for error, Arsenal are lurking ready to pounce, and Liverpool have the emotional high ground.
Want to see exactly how that Liverpool win shuffled the pack? Check the updated football league table, goal difference swings, and points gaps in real time:
Check full stats & standings now
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