Haaland Hat-trick Chaos as Man City Edge Liverpool in Premier League Live Thriller
21.02.2026 - 15:21:26 | ad-hoc-news.de
This wasn’t just another top-of-the-table clash – it was a statement night. Erling Haaland, ice-cold and brutal, smashed in a hat-trick, while Mohamed Salah tried to drag Liverpool back from the dead with a classic Anfield masterclass. Drama, goals, chaos – pure football madness.
Premier League Fireworks: Liverpool 3–4 Manchester City
The headline act of today's soccer games delivered everything. Liverpool flew out the traps, but City walked away with the points – and possibly the momentum in the title race.
First-Half Carnage
On 14 minutes, Anfield erupted. Liverpool's press finally clicked, they won the ball high, and Mohamed Salah curled a gorgeous left-foot finish into the far corner past Ederson to make it 1–0. Classic Salah: first touch to shift, second touch to kill.
But you can't give Manchester City a sniff. On 27 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy through ball between Van Dijk and Konaté, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does – one touch to set, one thunderbolt finish across Alisson for 1–1.
City then flipped the script completely. In the 39th minute, a recycled corner fell to Phil Foden on the edge of the box. Foden chopped inside and whipped a right-foot curler that took a tiny deflection off Robertson on its way into the top corner. 2–1 City, Anfield stunned, Guardiola going ballistic on the touchline.
Second-Half Show: Haaland vs Salah
The second half? Pure chaos. On 52 minutes, a quick Liverpool combination down the right saw Trent Alexander-Arnold slip Salah in behind. Salah squared it across goal and Darwin Núñez slid in from close range to level it at 2–2. Crowd alive, game on.
Then came the VAR storm. On 64 minutes, City thought they had the lead when Foden's low cross was tapped in again by Haaland. The flag went up, but after a long VAR check the goal stood – Konaté's trailing foot played Haaland on. Anfield howled, Jürgen Klopp raged on the touchline, but the scoreboard flipped to 3–2 City.
Liverpool weren't done. On 77 minutes, Luis Díaz danced past Walker, cut the ball back, and there was Salah again, smashing it first time into the roof of the net for 3–3. It felt like one of those classic Anfield nights where Liverpool just refuse to lose.
But City, ruthless as ever, had the final say. In the 88th minute, De Bruyne clipped a teasing cross to the back post. Haaland bullied Konaté in the air and buried a towering header for his hat-trick and the 4–3 winner. That's three goals for Erling Haaland – a true big-game monster performance.
Heroes, Flops & Big Names Under the Spotlight
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – Absolute machine. A clinical hat-trick under maximum pressure. His movement destroyed Liverpool's back line all game. Hero, no debate.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – Two sublime assists, constantly dictating the tempo. When City needed calm and creativity, he delivered.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Two huge goals, worked non-stop, and dragged Liverpool back into it twice. Couldn’t do more. World-class, even in defeat.
- Virgil van Dijk & Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) – Bullied by Haaland at key moments. Not a disaster, but nowhere near their dominant best in a game where Liverpool needed them to be flawless.
The big talking point, though, is still that VAR offside call on Haaland's second. On another day, that flag stays up and the title race looks very different right now.
Title Race Shockwaves & Live Table Context
This result hits the table like a grenade. City move clear at the top while Liverpool suddenly feel like they're chasing rather than leading. The goal difference swing from a 4–3 away win is huge in such a tight race. For the neutral, it's perfection – for Liverpool, it's pain.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League Heavyweights Warm Up
Over in Spain, Real Madrid kept their own momentum going ahead of Champions League action. Jude Bellingham was on the scoresheet again in a 2–0 win, smashing in the opener from the edge of the box and generally running the show in midfield. He didn't need to be flashy – just brutally efficient.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain cruised, with Kylian Mbappé adding another goal to his ridiculous tally – a classic Mbappé move: burst of pace down the left, cut inside, and a low finish into the bottom corner. Business as usual, but it keeps PSG sharp heading into their Champions League nights.
Social Media Spotlight: Chaos, Controversy & Clips
The second Haaland 'onside' decision hit the big screen, the internet just exploded. Fans from both sides have gone nuclear over that VAR check and the defending from Liverpool's back line.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging over the VAR offside call on Haaland's second goal
Reporter's Take: Brutal, Brilliant, and a Reality Check
From my point of view, this felt like the night City reminded everyone they're still the team to beat. Haaland was absolutely ruthless – three big chances, three big goals. When your number 9 is that efficient, you win titles.
For Liverpool, there's no shame in losing a 4–3 thriller to a squad like City, but the defending in key moments just wasn't good enough. In my opinion, Klopp left it a bit late with his changes, and once City smelled blood, they didn't let go. You can’t give De Bruyne space to pick passes or allow Haaland to attack crosses unchallenged. That's asking for trouble – and they got it.
The wider picture? The Premier League live narrative has shifted. City look sharp, confident and cold-blooded. Liverpool now need a reaction in their next few soccer games or this could be the night we look back on as the moment the title slipped away.
Final Whistle: Buckle Up for the Run-In
If tonight is a preview of the run-in, we're in for a wild finish. Haaland firing, Salah fighting, Bellingham and Mbappé cruising in their leagues – the big names are all in form at the same time. That means goals, drama and late twists across the Premier League and Champions League.
Keep an eye on how this result reshapes not just the title race but also the race for top scorers today and those Champions League spots. Every point, every goal, every VAR call suddenly feels massive.
Check full stats & standings now
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