Last?gasp drama live: Liverpool edge City as Haaland & Salah trade blows
20.02.2026 - 06:59:34
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-20, the pitch is on fire... You wanted chaos from today's soccer games, you got absolute madness at Anfield. Liverpool and Manchester City just ripped up the script in a late-night Premier League live showdown that could flip the whole title race on its head.
The noise, the goals, the nerves – this one had everything: superstar strikers doing superstar things, VAR turning into the main character again, and one last punch in stoppage time that has the Kop dreaming and City fans fuming.
City actually drew first blood. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slipped in one of those trademark slide-rule passes, slicing through Liverpool's back line. Erling Haaland bullied his way between the two centre-backs, took one touch, and smashed a low left-footed strike into the bottom corner. 1–0 City, and Haaland doing Haaland things – ice cold, zero emotion, pure machine.
Liverpool didn't sulk, they snapped back. On 33 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold switched play with a delicious diagonal to Luis Díaz, who drove at Kyle Walker and clipped a ball to the back post. Mohamed Salah ghosted in, let it bounce once, and volleyed across Ederson. 1–1, Anfield erupted, Salah arms wide, you've seen that pose a thousand times – still iconic.
Right after the break, we got chaos. City thought they'd taken the lead on 52 minutes when Phil Foden finished from close range after a Haaland knockdown. The Etihad fanbase online was already spamming the timeline – until VAR dragged it back. After a long check, Haaland was judged to have tugged Virgil van Dijk in the build-up. Goal chalked off. Hot Topic alert: that VAR call is what everyone's raging about right now.
And in classic football karma style, Liverpool punished City almost instantly. On 59 minutes, Alexis Mac Allister fizzed in a through ball, Salah checked onto his left just inside the box and slipped a cute reverse pass into Darwin Núñez. The Uruguayan took it early, low drive, bottom corner. 2–1 Liverpool, Núñez screaming into the camera, absolutely pumped.
But you never, ever kill off this City side easily. On 74 minutes, De Bruyne swung in a wicked inswinging free kick. Haaland rose above everyone, powered a header that Alisson parried, but the rebound broke to Bernardo Silva, who stabbed it home. 2–2, game back on, and suddenly it felt like classic City late siege incoming.
Then came the moment that will run on highlight reels for years. Deep into stoppage time, 90+3, Liverpool won a corner. City partially cleared, the ball dropped to Alexander-Arnold around 25 yards out. Instead of shooting, he whipped a diagonal ball into the far channel where substitute Ben Doak had peeled off his marker. One touch to set, then a vicious low ball across the six-yard box. Sliding in at the back post? Mohamed Salah again, smashing it past Ederson from close range. 3–2 Liverpool. The Kop absolutely exploded. Smoke, flares, limbs everywhere.
Erling Haaland did what he does – one clinical finish, huge involvement in the disallowed goal, and that presence that warps a defence. But if we're being brutal, he'll know he could have left with a brace: he skied a big chance on 68 minutes when Foden squared it to him on the penalty spot. For his standards, that's a sitter.
Kevin De Bruyne looked back to his best rhythm – one assist, constant threading of passes. But the City midfield got overrun in waves late on. Rodri, usually Mr. Untouchable, was late to second balls and got dragged wide too often by Liverpool's rotations. On another night, he's controlling that final 20 minutes – today, he was chasing shadows.
At the back, Virgil van Dijk had a war with Haaland – he lost a few duels, won some big ones. The VAR scene for the disallowed goal will be clipped a million times. There was contact, but was it enough for a foul? That grey area is exactly why social media is melting down about VAR again.
With three points in the bag, Liverpool jump above City in the football league table – at least for now – and stack the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side to react fast in their next fixtures. Every slip feels bigger when the big boys are playing in effectively a mini-league at the top.
Liverpool, meanwhile, sent a strong message to the rest of Europe: this attack can still slice up any defence. Salah in killer mode, Díaz stretching wide, Núñez playing on the edge – nobody in the Champions League draw is looking at Anfield and feeling relaxed right now.
In my opinion, City were a bit too passive after equalising at 2–2. You expect the champions to smell blood; instead, they seemed happy to take the draw and get out. That tiny drop in intensity in stoppage time cost them, and you can bet Pep is tearing into that in the dressing room right now.
As for Salah, absolute world-class performance. When it mattered most, he was the calmest guy in the stadium. If he keeps carrying Liverpool like this, we're going to be talking about him in the same breath as the greatest the Premier League has ever seen – if we aren't already.
Before you dive into the next wave of soccer news and Champions League build-up, make sure you see exactly how tight the top is getting.
The noise, the goals, the nerves – this one had everything: superstar strikers doing superstar things, VAR turning into the main character again, and one last punch in stoppage time that has the Kop dreaming and City fans fuming.
Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City – Salah vs Haaland, and a twist at the death
This was billed as Salah vs Haaland, and both monsters delivered. But the final word? That belonged to a young hero in red who might have just written his name into Anfield folklore.City actually drew first blood. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slipped in one of those trademark slide-rule passes, slicing through Liverpool's back line. Erling Haaland bullied his way between the two centre-backs, took one touch, and smashed a low left-footed strike into the bottom corner. 1–0 City, and Haaland doing Haaland things – ice cold, zero emotion, pure machine.
Liverpool didn't sulk, they snapped back. On 33 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold switched play with a delicious diagonal to Luis Díaz, who drove at Kyle Walker and clipped a ball to the back post. Mohamed Salah ghosted in, let it bounce once, and volleyed across Ederson. 1–1, Anfield erupted, Salah arms wide, you've seen that pose a thousand times – still iconic.
Right after the break, we got chaos. City thought they'd taken the lead on 52 minutes when Phil Foden finished from close range after a Haaland knockdown. The Etihad fanbase online was already spamming the timeline – until VAR dragged it back. After a long check, Haaland was judged to have tugged Virgil van Dijk in the build-up. Goal chalked off. Hot Topic alert: that VAR call is what everyone's raging about right now.
And in classic football karma style, Liverpool punished City almost instantly. On 59 minutes, Alexis Mac Allister fizzed in a through ball, Salah checked onto his left just inside the box and slipped a cute reverse pass into Darwin Núñez. The Uruguayan took it early, low drive, bottom corner. 2–1 Liverpool, Núñez screaming into the camera, absolutely pumped.
But you never, ever kill off this City side easily. On 74 minutes, De Bruyne swung in a wicked inswinging free kick. Haaland rose above everyone, powered a header that Alisson parried, but the rebound broke to Bernardo Silva, who stabbed it home. 2–2, game back on, and suddenly it felt like classic City late siege incoming.
Then came the moment that will run on highlight reels for years. Deep into stoppage time, 90+3, Liverpool won a corner. City partially cleared, the ball dropped to Alexander-Arnold around 25 yards out. Instead of shooting, he whipped a diagonal ball into the far channel where substitute Ben Doak had peeled off his marker. One touch to set, then a vicious low ball across the six-yard box. Sliding in at the back post? Mohamed Salah again, smashing it past Ederson from close range. 3–2 Liverpool. The Kop absolutely exploded. Smoke, flares, limbs everywhere.
Stars under the spotlight: heroes & flops
Mohamed Salah was the headline act: two goals, one pre-assist, total menace. Whenever he drifted inside, you could feel City's back line panic. He wasn't just scoring – he was dictating how Liverpool attacked. In this kind of form, he's a walking Ballon d'Or argument.Erling Haaland did what he does – one clinical finish, huge involvement in the disallowed goal, and that presence that warps a defence. But if we're being brutal, he'll know he could have left with a brace: he skied a big chance on 68 minutes when Foden squared it to him on the penalty spot. For his standards, that's a sitter.
Kevin De Bruyne looked back to his best rhythm – one assist, constant threading of passes. But the City midfield got overrun in waves late on. Rodri, usually Mr. Untouchable, was late to second balls and got dragged wide too often by Liverpool's rotations. On another night, he's controlling that final 20 minutes – today, he was chasing shadows.
At the back, Virgil van Dijk had a war with Haaland – he lost a few duels, won some big ones. The VAR scene for the disallowed goal will be clipped a million times. There was contact, but was it enough for a foul? That grey area is exactly why social media is melting down about VAR again.
Title race shockwaves – Liverpool climb, City wobble
This result is massive. Liverpool's win pushes them right back into the heart of the Premier League title conversation, while City suddenly look a bit human in what was supposed to be the comfortable middle stretch of the season. Those dropped points could be huge by May if Arsenal or another challenger keep their foot down.With three points in the bag, Liverpool jump above City in the football league table – at least for now – and stack the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side to react fast in their next fixtures. Every slip feels bigger when the big boys are playing in effectively a mini-league at the top.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Champions League news & wider European drama
All of this Premier League live carnage drops just as the Champions League knockout rounds loom. City are chasing that back-to-back European crown, and tonight raised serious questions about their defensive focus under sustained pressure. If Salah and Núñez can do this, what happens when they run into a Kylian Mbappé or a sizzling Vinícius Júnior later in the spring?Liverpool, meanwhile, sent a strong message to the rest of Europe: this attack can still slice up any defence. Salah in killer mode, Díaz stretching wide, Núñez playing on the edge – nobody in the Champions League draw is looking at Anfield and feeling relaxed right now.
Social Media Spotlight – the world reacts in real time
Everyone's timelines are basically one big screaming match over that VAR call on Haaland and the stoppage-time winner. Clips, screenshots, furious threads – you name it, it's out there. Dive in if you're ready for the chaos.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the VAR decision on Haaland's disallowed goal
My take: this felt like a statement, not just three points
From a young reporter's seat, this didn't just look like another big-game win – it looked like a power move. Liverpool didn't play it safe, they went full throttle. Risky, wild, but so them.In my opinion, City were a bit too passive after equalising at 2–2. You expect the champions to smell blood; instead, they seemed happy to take the draw and get out. That tiny drop in intensity in stoppage time cost them, and you can bet Pep is tearing into that in the dressing room right now.
As for Salah, absolute world-class performance. When it mattered most, he was the calmest guy in the stadium. If he keeps carrying Liverpool like this, we're going to be talking about him in the same breath as the greatest the Premier League has ever seen – if we aren't already.
Closing whistle – title race just got real
So yeah, if you missed tonight's action, you missed pure football chaos. Salah scoring a brace, Haaland doing damage but not enough, VAR stealing the spotlight, and Anfield shaking to its core. The title race feels properly alive now – a few more nights like this and we're in for an all-time season.Before you dive into the next wave of soccer news and Champions League build-up, make sure you see exactly how tight the top is getting.
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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