Liverpool vs Man City goes wild: late twist shakes title race live
10.02.2026 - 19:43:19
Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – Pure chaos, pure drama
This was everything we love about football squeezed into 90 frantic minutes. The Football results today headline is simple: Liverpool beat Man City 3-2, but that barely tells the story.
City struck first. On 17 minutes, Erling Haaland did exactly what Erling Haaland does. Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy through ball between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, and Haaland bullied his way into space before smashing a low left-footed strike past Alisson for 0-1. One chance, one goal – ice cold.
But Anfield doesn’t stay quiet for long. On 32 minutes, Liverpool answered. Mohamed Salah picked up the ball wide right, cut inside on that wand of a left foot, swapped a one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, and curled one into the far corner. Ederson got fingertips, not enough – 1-1 and the place exploded.
Right before half-time, Liverpool flipped the script. From a corner, Trent Alexander-Arnold floated in a vicious delivery, and Virgil van Dijk rose above Rúben Dias to power a header into the net for 2-1. Total bedlam in the Kop, City players screaming for a foul that VAR calmly waved away after a quick check.
Haaland vs Salah: superstar duel
Second half, City came out angry. On 58 minutes, De Bruyne again found space, dinked a pass towards the far post, and Haaland ghosted between defenders to nod in from close range – his second of the night, 2-2. Classic poacher stuff. Alisson slammed the turf; Konaté threw his arms up. You could feel the tension.
Salah, though, refused to be overshadowed. The Egyptian king was a menace every time he touched the ball – dropping deep, spinning in behind, dragging defenders everywhere. On 77 minutes, he almost produced a hat-trick of assists, sliding Darwin Núñez through, only for Ederson to pull off a huge one-on-one save.
Controversial late winner – VAR meltdown
The match report turns crazy in the 88th minute. Núñez drove into the box and tangled with João Cancelo. The ref initially waved play on, but after a furious Liverpool appeal and a VAR review, the penalty was given – marginal contact, but enough under today’s rules.
Up stepped Mohamed Salah. Ederson tried every mind game in the book, but Salah stayed ice cold, blasting the ball into the top-right corner for 3-2 and his second goal of the night. Anfield erupted; City players surrounded the referee; social media instantly went nuclear over the decision.
Haaland finished with two goals, a classic big-game stat line, but in the defining moment, it was Salah who grabbed the spotlight and possibly the title momentum. De Bruyne was sublime in spells but faded late; Phil Foden never really got going; and City’s back line simply couldn’t cope with Liverpool’s intensity.
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham and Mbappé keep shining
In La Liga, Jude Bellingham stayed on his Ballon d’Or trajectory. Real Madrid edged a tight 2-1 home win, with Bellingham scoring the opener – a smart late run into the box, sweeping home a cut-back from Vinícius Júnior – and then assisting the winner with a perfectly weighted pass that split the defence. He dictated the tempo, dropped deep when needed, and still arrived in the box like a No. 9. Hero mode again.
Over in Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé did what Mbappé does. PSG’s 3-0 win was powered by a brace from their superstar: first, a blistering counter-attack where he burned two defenders and finished low across the keeper; second, a trademark curler from the left edge of the box into the far top corner. Untouchable. Defenders look terrified even before he receives the ball.
What this means for the Premier League table
This Liverpool vs Man City result flips the top of the football league table on its head. Liverpool jump ahead of City, tightening the title race and piling pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side heading into a brutal run of fixtures. City, usually the cool killers of the run-in, suddenly look a bit shaky at the back and way too dependent on Haaland’s goals.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Champions League news & top scorers today
With Salah, Haaland, Bellingham and Mbappé all firing, the Champions League news practically writes itself. Today’s performances are giant statements ahead of the knockout stages.
- Salah – brace vs Man City, reminding everyone he’s still one of the deadliest in Europe.
- Haaland – two goals away at Anfield, yet still on the losing side; you know hell be boiling for the next European night.
- Bellingham – goal and assist, pure all-round dominance in midfield.
- Mbappé – two goals, multiple chances created, defenders twisted inside out for 90 minutes.
If youre tracking top scorers today, those four were absolutely front and centre. Every one of them looked like a Champions League-winning superstar.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing it over the late VAR penalty for Liverpool
My take: Klopp-ball is back, City look human
From a young reporters seat, this felt like a statement that goes way beyond three points. Liverpool looked like the old ruthless, heavy-metal version of themselves again – pressing in waves, Anfield roaring with every tackle, Salah playing like a man whos not ready to give that crown to anyone just yet.
City, on the other hand, looked strangely vulnerable. Haaland is a monster, yes, but when De Bruyne tired and Bernardo Silva went quiet, there wasnt enough control. Guardiolas back line got bullied by Núñezs movement and Salahs trickery. In my opinion, if Pep doesnt tighten that defence fast, this seasons Premier League and Champions League campaign could slip away.
Bellingham? World-class, again. Mbappé? Feels like hes playing a different sport at times. If youre trying to pick a best player in the world right now, today didnt make it any easier – it just turned the debate into a full-on war.
Closing whistle: title race on a knife-edge
So, football results today gave us exactly what we live for: late winners, superstar showdowns, VAR fury, and a title race that refuses to calm down. Liverpool vs Man City delivered a classic, and over in Spain and France the biggest names in the game just kept stacking unreal numbers.
Want to see exactly how much this shook up the standings and whos really on top right now?
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.
