Haaland Brace, Salah Answer: Premier League Title Race Live and Wild

Haaland hits a ruthless brace, Salah fires back late, and the title race flips again – but did VAR steal the show or save it?

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-24, the pitch is on fire... You wanted drama in soccer games, you got it. The Premier League served up pure chaos as Manchester City and Liverpool traded blows in a heavyweight clash that shook the title race to its core, while Arsenal kept breathing down their necks with another ruthless win.

Haaland vs Salah: Superstars Under the Spotlight

At the Etihad, it felt like a Champions League night wrapped inside a domestic blockbuster. Manchester City 3–2 Liverpool – and every minute was dripping with tension.

The first punch came from, who else, Erling Haaland. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy reverse pass into the box, and Haaland did what Haaland does – one touch to set, second touch smashed low past the keeper. 1–0 City, and the Norwegian machine was off and running.

Liverpool weren’t just there to watch, though. On 34 minutes, Mohamed Salah answered. A quick one-two with Darwin Núñez saw Salah drift inside, chop onto his left, and curl a trademark finish into the far corner. 1–1, and suddenly the Etihad went nervous quiet for a second.

Then came the first big flashpoint. Just before half-time, City thought they had the lead when Phil Foden rifled one in from the edge of the box. But VAR stepped in, ruling that Haaland had tugged Virgil van Dijk in the build-up. Goal chalked off, Klopp raging on the touchline, Guardiola laughing in disbelief – pure Premier League live chaos.

Second-Half Madness: Haaland Brace and a Late Salah Twist

The second half turned into a highlight reel. On 54 minutes, City finally broke through again. A De Bruyne corner, a flick-on at the near post, and there was Rúben Dias stabbing home from close range. 2–1 City, blue flares in the stands.

Just eight minutes later, Haaland struck again. Foden drew two defenders wide, slipped Haaland through, and the striker bullied his way between van Dijk and Konaté before slotting past the keeper. Haaland 3–1, Liverpool on the ropes.

But Salah doesn’t do quiet exits. On 82 minutes, Liverpool got a lifeline. Substitute Luis Díaz skinned his marker, cut the ball back, and Salah steamed in to bury his second of the night. 3–2, and suddenly the final minutes turned frantic.

In stoppage time, the whole stadium stopped breathing. Núñez went down under a challenge from Kyle Walker in the box. The referee waved play on, VAR checked it, and stuck with the on-field call. No penalty, Klopp furious, Liverpool fans exploding online. That moment is already the hottest clip in today’s soccer news feeds.

Final whistle: Manchester City 3–2 Liverpool. Haaland the ruthless finisher with a brace, Salah the defiant star with two goals of his own – but the title race edge, for now, swings City’s way.

Arsenal Stay In the Fight

While all eyes were on Manchester, Arsenal quietly did exactly what title contenders must do: win, and win clean. At the Emirates, Arsenal 2–0 Newcastle kept the Gunners right in the conversation.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring on 27 minutes. Martin Ødegaard threaded a pass between the lines, Saka cut inside from the right and hammered a low drive into the far corner. Textbook Saka, ice-cold finish. 1–0 Arsenal.

Newcastle tried to push higher after the break, but that just opened space for Arsenal’s pace. On 63 minutes, a sweeping move down the left ended with Gabriel Jesus arriving in the box to meet a low cross and tap home. 2–0, game done, crowd bouncing.

Ødegaard pulled the strings all evening, while Saka looked unplayable at times. Jesus did the dirty work plus got his goal – a proper number 9’s performance. For a team chasing that top spot in the football league table, this was exactly the kind of professional, grown-up win Mikel Arteta will love.

What This Does to the Table

City’s win keeps them narrowly ahead in the Premier League live title race, but Liverpool and Arsenal are absolutely still breathing down their necks. One bad result and this whole thing flips again. Liverpool’s late fightback at least keeps their goal difference and belief alive, while Arsenal are lurking, waiting for either of the big two to blink.

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

Champions League Vibes Creeping In

You could feel it: tonight’s level was pure Champions League news energy. Haaland bullying centre-backs, Salah refusing to go away, De Bruyne dictating like a maestro – these are the same faces you know will be deciding knockout ties in Europe soon. City’s sharpness in both boxes looked terrifying at times, while Liverpool’s ability to flip a switch and suddenly become unplayable for 15–20 minutes is exactly why nobody wants to draw them.

My Take: Haaland Ruthless, Liverpool Burned by the Fine Margins

Let’s be real: in my opinion, this was City showing exactly why they’re still the team to beat. Haaland wasn’t even at his absolute scariest for 90 minutes – and he still walks away with a brace. De Bruyne, even when he’s not spraying Hollywood passes every second, just controls the entire rhythm.

For Liverpool, Salah was world-class. Two goals, endless running, always the threat. But they can’t keep putting him in "save us" situations this often. The back line switched off for Dias’s goal, and against a side like City, that’s basically signing your own punishment.

The VAR call at the end? For me, it’s one of those borderline moments that looks like a penalty at full speed but becomes 50–50 in slow motion. I get why Liverpool fans are furious, and you can’t blame them after how intense the game was. But if you’re banking your whole night on a stoppage-time decision, you’ve already left it too late.

Arsenal, quietly, might be the real winners of this round. No drama, no chaos, just three points. If they keep grinding like this while City and Liverpool keep tearing each other apart, don’t be shocked if the Gunners sneak into the final straight with fresher legs and clearer heads.

Closing Whistle: This Race Is Now a Sprint

Today’s soccer games gave us everything – superstar braces, tactical battles, VAR controversy, and a title race that looks like it’s heading for a photo finish. Haaland vs Salah delivered on the hype, and Arsenal made sure nobody forgets about them.

If you’re trying to make sense of the madness and who actually has the edge right now, the table tells the raw story. Every single point from here on out is basically gold dust.

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.