Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Anfield erupts as title race twists

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild Anfield battle – Salah delivers, Haaland rages, VAR chaos lights up the title race. You won’t believe the late drama.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-01-24, the pitch is on fire... The football results today have absolutely ripped the title race wide open. At Anfield, Liverpool squeezed past Manchester City in a 3-2 classic that had everything: Mohamed Salah ice-cold from the spot, Erling Haaland scoring then fuming at VAR, and a late winner that nearly blew the roof off the Kop.

If you were searching for football results today and somehow missed this, honestly, stop everything and catch up – this was season-defining stuff.

Premier League live drama: Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City

Anfield under the lights, top two going punch-for-punch, and the stars absolutely delivering. The scoring started early: in the 12th minute, Erling Haaland bullied his way between the centre-backs and buried a low finish into the bottom corner after a slick through ball from Kevin De Bruyne. Classic Haaland – one chance, one goal, ice in his veins.

But Liverpool hit back. On 27 minutes, Mohamed Salah equalised with a trademark left-foot rocket. Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped a diagonal to Darwin Núñez, who cushioned a header into Salahs path. One touch to shift, then a vicious curler into the far top corner. Ederson just watched it fly. Anfield erupted, Salah stood arms wide – this is his stage.

Right before half-time, Liverpool flipped the game. A quick corner from Dominik Szoboszlai found Trent on the edge of the box; his driven cross was flicked on by Núñez and bundled in at the back post by Luís Díaz. Liverpool 2-1 City, and Anfield was bouncing.

Haaland vs VAR: Pure chaos

The second half exploded around the 63rd minute. City thought they had equalised when Haaland tapped in after De Bruynes shot was parried by Alisson. The away end went wild, Haaland hit his familiar meditative celebration – and then VAR stepped in.

After a long check, referee Anthony Taylor was called to the screen. Replays showed Haaland had tugged Virgil van Dijks shirt in the build-up, just enough to spin him. Goal ruled out for a foul. City players surrounded the referee, Haaland laughed in disbelief, and social media instantly melted down. #LIVMCI was suddenly all about one decision.

City finally did draw level in the 74th minute, and it had to be Kevin De Bruyne. A cut-back from Phil Foden found KDB on the edge of the area. One touch to set, then a ruthless side-foot into the bottom corner. No drama, no debate – just pure class. 2-2, and you could feel the tension through the TV.

Last-minute winner: Local hero delivers

With both teams chasing the winner, the game went end-to-end. Haaland flashed a header wide, Núñez skied a huge chance, and Salah crashed a shot off the bar.

Then came the 89th minute. Substitute Harvey Elliott wriggled free in midfield and slipped the ball wide to Trent. City stood off, just a little. Big mistake. Alexander-Arnold whipped in a wicked, dipping cross that found Darwin Núñez between defenders. One thumping header, back across Ederson and into the corner. 3-2 Liverpool. Absolute carnage in the stands.

Núñez ripped away celebrating, shirts off, yellow card in the madness – but nobody in red cared. City threw everyone forward in stoppage time, even Ederson for a last-gasp corner, but Van Dijk cleared and the whistle went. Statement win for Liverpool. Brutal blow for Pep Guardiola.

Heroes & flops: Big names under the spotlight

• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): One crunch-time goal, constant menace, linked play, and smashed the bar. Massive performance in a massive game.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): Two huge contributions – the first-half assist chaos and the killer cross for the winner. Defensively tested, but his creativity decided the game.
• Darwin Núñez (Liverpool): Chaotic but unmissable. One assist, one match-winning goal, constant running. This is the Núñez Liverpool fans dream about.
• Erling Haaland (Man City): Scores early like a machine, but will be haunted by the disallowed second and a late headed miss. Still deadly, but not quite the match-winner tonight.
• Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): A goal, an assist, and basically carried Citys creative load. If anyone in blue deserved a point, it was him.

What this does to the football league table

This result flips the Premier League narrative. Liverpool leapfrog City at the top, creating a gap that suddenly feels massive in a tight title race. City now have to chase, and with tricky fixtures ahead, every dropped point is going to feel like a disaster.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

Elsewhere in the Premier League live action, Arsenal kept the heat on with a 2-0 home win, thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, while a frustrated Chelsea side drew 1-1 after Cole Palmer scored but they conceded late yet again. All of it just feeds into one thing: this title race is going to be wild.

Champions League news & top scorers today

Even with the domestic chaos, Champions League talk is everywhere. Fans are already debating whether tonights intensity at Anfield is a dress rehearsal for a European classic later this season. Salah and Haaland both added to their season tallies, and every goal today just sharpens the focus on the Golden Boot battles – in both league and Europe.

Across Europe, Kylian Mbappé bagged a brace in Ligue 1, spinning defenders for fun, while Jude Bellingham continued his ridiculous scoring streak in La Liga with a late box-arrival finish. These guys are putting up video-game numbers, and the Champions League knockout rounds are starting to look absolutely stacked with in-form superstars.

My take: Title-winning energy from Liverpool

Honestly, this felt like one of those nights you remember at the end of the season. Liverpool had that old-school, all-gas-no-brakes Anfield energy. In my opinion, this was a title-statement performance. Salah was ruthless, Núñez played like a man possessed, and Trent reminded everyone why hes one of the most unique full-backs on the planet.

For City, theres no need to panic – but theres definitely a conversation coming. Peps side controlled large chunks, yet they still walked away with nothing. The reliance on Haaland and De Bruyne is huge, and when VAR or fine margins go against them, they suddenly look human.

If Klopp keeps this intensity and gets this level from his front line, Liverpool are absolutely in the drivers seat for the run-in. The football league table is starting to tilt their way, and you can feel the belief flooding back around Anfield.

Closing whistle: Dont blink now

The football results today have completely reshaped the narrative. Liverpool on top, City chasing, Arsenal lurking – and the Champions League looming in the background. Every game from here is going to feel like a final.

Check full stats & standings now

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