Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Haaland vs Salah as title race explodes
23.02.2026 - 22:23:35 | ad-hoc-news.de
Liverpool vs Manchester City – Heavyweights trading haymakers
This one had everything. Goals, controversy, top scorers today doing exactly what they do, and a title race that refuses to slow down.
City struck first. On 19 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slid a disgusting through ball between Liverpool's centre-backs, and Erling Haaland did what he always does – one touch to set, second touch lashed low past Alisson into the bottom corner. That's Haaland adding again to his insane tally in the football league table of goal scorers this season.
But Liverpool hit back hard. Just before half-time, Darwin Núñez bullied his way into the box, drawing two defenders, then cut the ball across goal. Mohamed Salah ghosted in at the back post and smashed home the equaliser from close range on 43 minutes. Anfield exploded, the sound almost shaking the camera. Salah pointed straight at the Kop – you could feel the statement: he's still that guy.
Second half, same chaos. City went ahead again on 62 minutes. A short corner from Phil Foden, quick one-two with De Bruyne, and Foden whipped a left-footed curler that clipped the far post and dropped in. Alisson full stretch, no chance. Pure quality. City players sprinted to the away end – they knew how big that strike could be.
But Liverpool refused to die. On 78 minutes, the whole stadium went nuclear. Núñez chased what looked like a lost cause, beat Rúben Dias to the ball, and went down under contact. Referee initially waved play on, but then came the VAR drama. After a long, tense check, he was sent to the monitor. You could practically hear the arguments through the screen. After what felt like an eternity, he turned, pointed to the spot – penalty Liverpool.
Up stepped Mohamed Salah. Eyes locked, short run-up, smashed high into the top corner on 81 minutes for 2-2. Ederson guessed the right way but had no chance. The place went wild. Salah with a brace, calmly strutting back while City players surrounded the ref, furious about the decision.
The final ten minutes were pure panic mode. Haaland nearly stole it with a towering header that flew just over, while substitute Diogo Jota had a golden chance at the other end but dragged his shot wide. In stoppage time, there was even more controversy when City shouted for handball in the box against Virgil van Dijk, but this time VAR stayed silent. Pep Guardiola on the touchline lost it, arms flying, screaming at the fourth official.
Heroes and flops – who owned the stage?
Mohamed Salah was absolutely clutch. Two goals, constant movement, dragging City's back line all over the place. Every time Liverpool needed a spark, it was him. In terms of the top scorers today, he was right up there, delivering under maximum pressure.
Erling Haaland scored, of course, and bullied the centre-backs all game, but he will be fuming not to leave with the win. That late headed chance was massive, and for once, he didn't hit the target. Still, as a pure striker, he did his job – one clear chance, one goal.
Kevin De Bruyne was silk again – an assist, constant passing lanes, dictating tempo. On the other side, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai had good spells but also got overrun when City cranked up the pressure. Virgil van Dijk was a rock for most of the match but will know Haaland found space off his shoulder a few too many times.
The flop tag, if we're ruthless, might fall on some of the defensive units. City's usually reliable pair of Rúben Dias and John Stones struggled every time Núñez ran at them, and Dias in particular will be replaying that penalty incident in his head tonight. Was it soft? Maybe. Was it clumsy? Absolutely.
What does this do to the Premier League title race?
This draw keeps things razor tight at the top of the Premier League. City miss a golden chance to put daylight between themselves and Liverpool, while Liverpool will feel it's two points dropped at home but still huge that they didn't let City pull away. Arsenal and the rest of the chasing pack will be watching this with massive interest.
City stay just ahead in the football league table, but the gap is slim and absolutely nothing is settled. With both teams still involved in Champions League battles, fixture congestion is about to get brutal – and that’s where squads and rotations will really bite.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Across Europe – Champions League hopefuls making statements
Over on the continent, the Champions League news radar is buzzing because these domestic performances are sending clear signals. Real Madrid kept their machine rolling in La Liga with Jude Bellingham once again at the heart of everything. He scored with a late arriving run into the box and a cool finish, showing why he's one of the most feared midfielders on the planet right now.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé continued their domestic dominance. Mbappé grabbed a brace – one blistering counter-attack finish and one composed penalty – reminding everyone that even with transfer rumors swirling, he's still locked in. If you're tracking Champions League news, both Madrid and PSG look like they're peaking at the perfect moment.
Social Media Spotlight – VAR, penalties and pure chaos
If you jump into the live soccer news feeds right now, there's one big talking point: that VAR penalty for Liverpool. Was the contact enough? Did Núñez throw himself down? Should Dias have been smarter? The debate is absolutely raging online.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious and divided over the late VAR penalty at Anfield
Scroll through that hashtag and you'll see freeze-frames of the contact, fans drawing lines, slow-motion clips from every angle, and arguments about "the game's gone" vs "that's a stonewall pen". Classic modern football discourse.
Reporter's take – brutal honesty time
From my seat, this felt like a statement night for Liverpool, even if it's only one point. They went toe-to-toe with City again, and Salah proved – for the hundredth time – that he is still one of the most lethal forwards on the planet. The energy, the relentlessness, the way Anfield roared them on after going behind twice… that looks like a team that believes the title is still very much in reach.
For City, I'm torn. On one hand, taking a draw away at Anfield with Haaland scoring and De Bruyne pulling strings is never a disaster. On the other hand, champions kill games like this, and they had chances to do it. That missed Haaland header late on? That could easily become one of those moments we look back on if the title comes down to a single point.
And about the VAR call: in my opinion, Dias gave the referee a decision to make. In 2026, with VAR in play and all the cameras everywhere, you just can't dangle a leg like that inside the box. Was it soft? Maybe. Was it avoidable? Definitely. City fans will rage, but defenders know the rules of the game by now.
What next – buckle up
The title race is alive, the Champions League knockout rounds are coming, and the biggest stars are already in full drama mode. From Salah vs Haaland in England to Bellingham and Mbappé ruling the continent, this season is shaping up to be absolutely ridiculous.
Keep an eye on how tonight's draw shapes the rest of the run-in. Every fixture from here feels like a mini-final, and every dropped point is going to be dissected like crazy.
Check full stats & standings now
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