Last?gasp drama live: Premier League leaders stunned as Haaland fires back
25.01.2026 - 13:30:04
Premier League live drama: leaders rocked, Haaland responds
All eyes were on the Etihad as Manchester City edged a wild one against a fearless Newcastle United side, with Erling Haaland once again dragging City over the line in a pulsating 3-2 win. The visitors stunned the champions early when Alexander Isak lashed in the opener after a slick counter, but you knew Haaland wasn’t going to stay quiet for long.
The Norwegian cyborg responded with a ruthless brace: first, a trademark penalty into the bottom-left corner after Phil Foden was clipped in the box, and then a brutal near?post finish from a Kevin De Bruyne cut-back. In between, Newcastle nicked an equaliser through Anthony Gordon, smashing home from the edge of the area with Ederson rooted to the spot.
The decisive moment came late: with the game at 2-2 and tension burning through the stadium, De Bruyne swung in a corner, Haaland rose highest and his powerful header crashed off the bar, falling to Bernardo Silva who stabbed home the rebound. The linesman’s flag went up, VAR lines came out, and after a long check, the goal stood. City survive; Newcastle left fuming.
Leaders slip, title race explodes
Over at Anfield, the league leaders Liverpool dropped precious points in a frantic 2-2 draw with a stubborn Brentford side. Mohamed Salah looked like he was about to script another home win, curling in a gorgeous opener from the right after cutting inside onto his left foot. Pure Salah: one touch, one drop of the shoulder, one inevitable finish.
But Brentford don’t do quiet evenings. A long throw caused chaos, the ball dropped kindly and Ivan Toney pounced to level from close range. In the second half, Liverpool thought they’d killed it when Darwin Núñez finally found the net with a smart front?post flick from a Trent Alexander-Arnold low cross.
Then came the twist. Deep into stoppage time, Liverpool failed to clear a corner, and the ball fell to substitute Yoane Wissa, who smashed a half-volley into the roof of the net. Anfield froze. A quick VAR review checked for an offside in the buildup, but the goal stood, and suddenly those two dropped points felt massive.
On a day when City squeezed out a win and Liverpool stumbled, the entire top of the table just tightened. Salah was electric going forward but missed a huge one?on?one late on; Núñez’s goal doesn’t fully erase a few heavy touches, while at the back Liverpool’s set?piece defending looked shaky all night.
Top scorers today: Haaland and Salah still own the spotlight
In terms of top scorers today, it was the usual superstars grabbing the headlines. Haaland’s brace reminded everyone who the league’s deadliest finisher is right now. His movement for the second goal was ridiculous – peeling off the centre-back, then attacking the exact gap where De Bruyne loves to drill low crosses.
Salah added another beautiful goal to his Anfield collection and could easily have had a brace himself. His first?half strike was vintage: he isolated the full-back, cut inside, and the moment he opened up his body you almost knew where the ball was going. Even on a night where Liverpool dropped points, he still looked like the sharpest player on the pitch.
What does this do to the football league table?
So what does all this mean for the football league table and the title race? City’s narrow win and Liverpool’s stoppage?time heartbreak close the gap at the top again. One dropped result here, one late winner there – it’s exactly the kind of weekend that can come back to haunt a champion in May.
Liverpool still sit right in the hunt, but that comfortable cushion is gone, and City are breathing down their necks. The battle for the Champions League spots is just as wild, with every point feeling like gold dust.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Champions League news & ripple effects
With these domestic results, the Champions League picture gets even more fun. Haaland’s form is peaking at the perfect time for City’s European push, while Liverpool’s defensive wobbles on set pieces will be giving Jürgen Klopp some genuine nightmares ahead of their next Champions League nights. You can already picture elite European sides loading up on corners and long throws after watching today’s footage.
Social Media Spotlight
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans melting down over Liverpool's late set-piece collapse and stoppage-time equaliser
My take: Liverpool can't keep riding chaos
Let’s be real: City look more ruthless, Liverpool look more chaotic. In my opinion, if Klopp doesn’t tighten up those set pieces immediately, this feels like the kind of soft underbelly that costs you a title. You can’t expect Salah and Núñez to bail you out every single week when you’re gifting teams free looks from corners and long throws.
On the flip side, City weren’t flawless either. They lived dangerously in transition, and without Haaland’s insane efficiency they probably don’t win that game. But that’s the point: this is why Haaland is different. He doesn’t need 10 chances. Give him two decent looks, maybe three, and he’ll bury enough to change the season.
From a neutral’s point of view though? Absolute dream. End?to?end games, late equalisers, VAR drama, superstar goals – this is the kind of weekend that makes the whole world check the football results today every five minutes and spam group chats with goal clips.
Before you log off: don't ignore the table
If you’re trying to make sense of what all this chaos means long term – title race, top four, and relegation scraps – the league table is basically your best friend right now. Every late goal tonight shifted the mood for someone: relief for City, frustration for Liverpool, and pure belief for everyone still chasing European spots.
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.
