Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Salah stuns, Haaland silenced in title twist

Liverpool edge Man City in a frantic Anfield classic as Salah decides it late and Haaland struggles. This one shakes up the title race – and social media is melting.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-07, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today? You got absolute chaos. Anfield just served up a classic: Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City, a match that could end up defining the Premier League season. Mohamed Salah, once again, was the ice-cold closer, while Erling Haaland spent most of the night looking human for once.

Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – Salah writes another Anfield chapter

This felt like a Champions League knockout night disguised as a league game. The tempo, the noise, the stakes – everything was cranked to 11.

City actually struck first. In the 14th minute, a slick move down the right saw Kevin De Bruyne slide a trademark through ball in behind. Phil Foden timed his run perfectly and drilled a low left-footed shot across the keeper into the far corner. Clinical. 0-1 City.

But Liverpool refused to blink. On 31 minutes, Anfield erupted. Darwin Núñez bullied his defender to win a long ball, cushioned a header into the path of Mohamed Salah, and Salah did Salah things – shifting the ball onto his left and whipping it into the top corner from the edge of the box. 1-1, pure chaos energy in the stands.

Just before half-time, Liverpool flipped the script. From a corner, City failed to clear properly, and the ball dropped to Virgil van Dijk inside the six-yard box. One touch to set, second touch smashed into the roof of the net. 2-1 Liverpool, Anfield shaking, City players staring at each other looking for answers.

Haaland kept quiet, but not completely

Everyone was watching Erling Haaland, obviously. For 60 minutes, he was basically on an island. Van Dijk and Konaté were glued to him, snapping at every run, winning every aerial duel. Whenever City tried to whip a ball into the box, Haaland was swarmed.

Still, you can only keep that guy quiet for so long. In the 63rd minute, a misjudged clearance from Liverpool fell to Bernardo Silva. His chipped cross found Haaland peeling off the back post. One touch on the chest, one thumping right-foot volley low inside the near post. 2-2, and suddenly the entire stadium felt the momentum shift.

Then came the Salah dagger

Just when it felt like City might go on and win it, Liverpool found one more insane burst. On 82 minutes, Núñez exploded down the left, burning past Walker and cutting into the box. He squared it towards the penalty spot where Mohamed Salah ghosted between defenders and side-footed calmly into the corner. 3-2 Liverpool, fans going totally wild.

Salah ends the night with two massive goals and a performance that screams big-game legend. Haaland gets his goal, but if we're being real, he'll hate how long he was pocketed by Van Dijk. De Bruyne? Gorgeous assist early on, but faded under Liverpool's relentless press.

VAR drama, crunch tackles, and pure chaos

We even got the drama box ticked. On 89 minutes, City thought they had a penalty when Haaland went down after a tangle with Konaté. The ref pointed to the spot initially, Anfield froze, but then came the inevitable: VAR check. After a long review, the decision was overturned – minimal contact, Haaland already off balance. The Liverpool end treated that reversal like a fourth goal. City players surrounded the ref, social media instantly lit up, and you can bet that decision is being dissected frame-by-frame right now.

What this does to the Premier League table

This isn't just a big win, it's a full-on title statement. Liverpool's three points put them back on top, nudging City down and cranking the pressure on everyone else in the top four. With games coming thick and fast, this swing could be the difference between a trophy parade and "what if" regrets in May.

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

Elsewhere in today's football results

Across Europe, other giants were busy making headlines too. In Spain, Real Madrid cruised thanks to Jude Bellingham once more. He popped up with a late goal, arriving from deep to finish a cutback inside the box. Standard Bellingham, really – timing, composure, and that calm side-foot finish that looks way too easy for the situation.

Over in France, Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé did exactly what you expect them to do on a big night. Mbappé bagged a brace – one from the spot after drawing the foul himself, and another on the break where he roasted the full-back and slotted low into the corner. If we're talking about top scorers today, Mbappé's name is right near the top of the list once again.

Put it all together and you've got a day where every big name had a story: Salah the hero, Haaland frustrated, Bellingham decisive, Mbappé unstoppable. This is exactly why you keep hitting refresh on the Premier League live scores and Champions League news feeds.

Social Media Spotlight – the web is losing its mind

The combination of Salah's winner and that late VAR non-penalty for City has sent fans into full meltdown mode online. Tribal arguments, freeze-frame clips, penalty law threads – you name it, it's out there. The hot topic right now is absolutely the overturned VAR penalty on Haaland.

My take: Salah legendary, City look a bit too fragile

From a young reporter's point of view: this felt like one of those nights we'll talk about in highlight reels for years. Salah just keeps stacking big-game numbers, and when you factor in the timing, the pressure, and the quality of his finishes, this is world-class stuff. He doesn't just score, he chooses the worst possible moment for the opposition.

City, on the other hand, suddenly look a bit too dependent on individuals. When De Bruyne fades, the whole structure looks less scary. When Haaland can't bully his way into constant chances, you start seeing sideways passing instead of ruthless cutting edge. The squad is still insane, but mentally, nights like this can leave a scar.

And about that VAR call: in my opinion, overturning it was the right call by the letter of the law, but in real time it absolutely looks like a penalty. That's why neutrals are obsessed with VAR drama – it's that thin line between glory and disaster.

Closing whistle – and what's next

So if you're hunting for football results today, this is the headline act: Liverpool beat City, Salah shines, Haaland stutters, and the whole title race swings on one wild night. Elsewhere in Europe, Bellingham and Mbappé are doing exactly what superstars are supposed to do – deciding games, owning headlines, dominating every soccer news feed.

Now it's all about how the table looks heading into the next round of fixtures and how managers react – tweaks, rotations, maybe even some panic.

Check full stats & standings now

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@ ad-hoc-news.de