Liverpool stun City in late thriller as Haaland & Salah go head-to-head live

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild late finish, with Salah decisive and Haaland denied. Title race twists again – and one VAR call has everyone raging.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-07, the pitch is on fire... Did you see that?? If you came here hunting for football results today, you just walked into pure chaos: Liverpool have just taken down Manchester City 2-1 at Anfield in a Premier League classic that’s already blowing up every timeline on earth.

Liverpool 2-1 Man City – Salah delivers, Haaland shut down

This felt like a title decider in February. From the first whistle it was frantic: pressing, tackles flying in, and the stars on show. Manchester City actually struck first – a slick move that looked straight off the training pitch. In the 19th minute, Kevin De Bruyne threaded a ridiculous pass in behind, Phil Foden squared it across the box, and Erling Haaland did what he does: one touch, bang, low into the corner for 0-1.

But Liverpool didn’t blink. Anfield roared them back into it. Just before half-time, in the 43rd minute, Dominik Szoboszlai pinched the ball high, slipped it wide to Mohamed Salah, and the Egyptian King toyed with Rúben Dias before drilling a cross for Darwin Núñez to smash home from close range. 1-1 and Anfield absolutely erupted.

Haaland vs Virgil van Dijk was a war all night. Haaland got his goal, but after that Van Dijk turned into a brick wall. One huge moment came on 63 minutes: Haaland broke through, one-on-one, tried to round Alisson, but Van Dijk recovered with a monster sliding block that had the Kop chanting his name like it was 2019 all over again.

The big VAR flashpoint

The game flipped on a decision that’s already the biggest talking point online. On 74 minutes, City thought they’d gone 2-1 up. De Bruyne whipped in a wicked free-kick, John Stones nodded it home, and the away end went wild. But hold up – VAR check.

After a long, painful wait, the goal was disallowed for offside against Rodri, who was judged to be interfering with play in front of Alisson. City’s bench went ballistic. Pep Guardiola was waving his arms on the touchline, screaming at the fourth official. That’s the decision social media is absolutely melting down over right now.

Salah the closer, City punished

And then came the killer. 87th minute, legs gone, nerves shredded. Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped into midfield, slid a gorgeous pass through the lines to Szoboszlai, who flicked it first-time to Mohamed Salah at the edge of the area. Salah opened up his body and curled a filthy left-footed shot into the far corner. 2-1 Liverpool, pure world-class finish.

Salah’s numbers this season are unreal and tonight he played like a man who refuses to let the title slip. One goal, one assist, constant danger. On the other side, Haaland’s night is going to split opinions: he scores, sure, but he also misses that big one-on-one and barely touches the ball in the closing stages as Liverpool squeeze the life out of City’s build-up.

De Bruyne was City’s heartbeat, threading passes all game, while Foden kept trying to drag them back into it with those trademark cuts inside. But when it mattered most, Liverpool’s spine – Alisson, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Salah – showed up with ice-cold composure.

Elsewhere in the Premier League – top-four war heating up

While the Anfield drama stole the headlines, the rest of the Premier League live slate delivered plenty of noise in the football results today buzz.

• Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle – Arsenal were ruthless. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a low drive after a slick one-two with Martin Ødegaard, before Gabriel Jesus poached a second from close range. Late on, substitute Leandro Trossard curled in a beauty to make it three. Saka was unplayable, constantly roasting his full-back, while Ødegaard ran the game as the conductor.
• Chelsea 1-1 Tottenham – At Stamford Bridge, Spurs snatched a late point. Chelsea went ahead through Cole Palmer from the spot after a clumsy foul on Nicolás Jackson. But Tottenham refused to die, and in the 89th minute, Heung-Min Son sneaked in at the back post to slam home from a James Maddison cross. Maddison and Son keep Spurs’ top-four dream very much alive.

Across Europe, the top scorers today list is stacked too. In La Liga, Jude Bellingham kept his crazy scoring record going with a late header for Real Madrid in a tight 1-0 win, ghosting into the box like a veteran striker. Over in Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé bagged a brace for PSG, including a vicious top-corner rocket that had the Champions League scouts and media drooling ahead of the knockout rounds.

What it means for the title race & league table

Liverpool’s win over City is massive. It doesn’t just flip the vibes; it flips the football league table as well. Liverpool jump to the top, City slip back, and Arsenal are lurking right behind, ready to punish any slip.

City still have time, but dropped points in this kind of direct clash are the kind that haunt you in April and May. Liverpool’s confidence, meanwhile, is going to be through the roof after beating their biggest rival in such dramatic fashion.

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

Champions League news: giants tuning up

With the Champions League knockouts right around the corner, tonight felt like a dress rehearsal. Liverpool and Man City both looked like teams who can go deep in Europe: high tempo, insane quality, and big-name players deciding big-moment games. That’s exactly the energy you want heading into massive midweek ties.

Real Madrid leaning on Bellingham and PSG leaning on Mbappé is becoming the weekly storyline in soccer news. When both of those guys score on the same night, you just know the next few months are going to be insane, especially with every Champions League night turning into a global event.

Social Media Spotlight – the web is losing its mind

Right now, the hot take factory is running 24/7 on one moment: that disallowed City goal and the late Salah winner. The official hashtag is the only place to survive – or not – the opinions flood.

Reporter's take – bold calls time

From where I'm sitting, this felt like a power shift night. Liverpool looked like the hungrier side, and in my opinion, City are starting to show tiny cracks when the pressure really cranks up. The midfield balance doesn't feel quite as unstoppable as in past seasons, and if Haaland isn't getting service, he can drift out of games.

On the flip side, Salah just keeps delivering in big moments. Managers come and go, systems change, but when Liverpool need a hero, it's somehow always him. That finish for the winner tonight? That's what separates stars from absolute legends.

If City don't fix that defensive wobble and the emotional tilt after VAR decisions, they're going to keep dropping points in exactly these pressure-cooker matches. For me, the mentality edge right now is with Liverpool and Arsenal.

Closing whistle – title race chaos incoming

If this is what early February looks like, the run-in is going to be absolutely unhinged. The football results today have thrown petrol on the Premier League title race, shaken up the football league table, and sent shockwaves through the whole European picture just as Champions League nights return.

Don't just take my word for it – check how tight it is at the top and who's quietly creeping up from behind.

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.

@ ad-hoc-news.de