Liverpool v Man City goes wild: Anfield drama shakes title race Live
09.02.2026 - 00:41:47
In terms of pure football results today, nothing beats a title six-pointer, and this one felt like a final. Both managers went full throttle, both sets of fans were deafening, and the stars were under the spotlight from the first whistle.
Red thunder at Anfield: Liverpool 2–1 Manchester City
The game exploded into life early. After a frantic opening, it was Erling Haaland who struck first for City. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne slid a vicious ball between the lines, Haaland took one touch on the edge of the box and drilled a low left-footed strike into the bottom corner. 1–0 City, classic Haaland – clinical, icy, ruthless.
But Liverpool did what Liverpool at Anfield always seem to do: they roared back. On 32 minutes, Mohamed Salah dragged his team into the game. Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped a diagonal switch, Luis Díaz beat his man and pulled it across the box, and Salah arrived late to side-foot home from 10 yards. Anfield exploded. 1–1, and suddenly City looked rattled.
From there, it turned into a proper Premier League slugfest. Haaland had another massive chance before half-time, again teed up by De Bruyne, but this time Alisson stood tall and saved with his legs. On the other side, Darwin Núñez powered a header wide from close range when he had to score. Big names, big misses – the kind of fine margins that decide seasons.
Second-half madness: subs, VAR and a late winner
The second half was pure drama. City tried to slow it down, Liverpool wanted chaos. Phil Foden hit the bar with a wicked curler from the edge of the area, while Salah stung Ederson's gloves after cutting inside from the right. Every attack felt like the moment.
The real storm hit on 71 minutes. Liverpool thought they had a penalty when Núñez went down under a challenge from Rúben Dias. The referee pointed to the spot, Anfield erupted, and then – of course – VAR. After a long, tense check, the decision was overturned for the lightest of contacts. City fans loved it, Liverpool fans absolutely did not. That decision is already blowing up online.
But you can only hold this Liverpool side down for so long. On 84 minutes, substitute Diogo Jota became the hero. Alexis Mac Allister fizzed a ball between the lines, Núñez laid it off first time, and Jota spun on a dime to smash a right-footed shot across Ederson into the far corner. Bedlam. 2–1 Liverpool, Anfield shaking, City shell-shocked.
City threw everything forward in stoppage time. Haaland had one last half-chance, stretching for a low cross from Bernardo Silva, but he couldn't get enough on it and the ball trickled wide. In a game where he started like a monster, he ended looking frustrated and isolated – not a flop, but definitely outshone by Salah's relentless menace and Jota's killer moment.
Stars on the big stage: heroes and nearly-men
- Mohamed Salah – Goal, constant threat, dragged Liverpool forward all night. He pressed, he created, he scored. That's what world-class looks like.
- Diogo Jota – Came off the bench, won the game. One chance, one clinical finish. That's the profile of a top "super-sub" but he'll argue he should be starting.
- Erling Haaland – Scored early, looked unplayable for 30 minutes, then slowly faded. Missed a big chance at 1–1 and couldn't find the equaliser at the death.
- Kevin De Bruyne – Classic assist for Haaland's opener, but Liverpool's midfield intensity limited his influence as the game wore on.
This wasn't just about individuals, though. Tactically, Liverpool pressed high and hard, forcing City into rushed passes, especially after the break. City tried to control the tempo, but once the game got stretched, it played right into Liverpool's hands.
Title race tremor: where this leaves the Premier League table
This result is massive. With Liverpool taking all three points, they leapfrog City in the race for top spot and pile serious pressure on the rest of the chasing pack. City, meanwhile, can't afford many more slip-ups, especially with tricky fixtures still to come.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
If you're tracking every twist in the football league table, this is one of those nights you bookmark. Goal difference, head-to-head, momentum – it all shifted in 90 wild minutes at Anfield.
Elsewhere in the football world: quickfire hits
While Anfield stole the spotlight, there were more key football results today across Europe rounding out a packed slate of soccer news.
- La Liga: Real Madrid kept their charge going, with Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet again in a 2–0 win, adding another composed finish to his highlight reel.
- Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappé bagged a brace for PSG, including a thunderbolt from distance that's tailor-made for YouTube highlight reels and Twitter loops.
- Champions League news (build-up): With knockout rounds looming, tonight's performances from the likes of Salah, Haaland, Mbappé and Bellingham are going to dominate the narrative heading into Europe. Form now, fear later.
Social Media Spotlight: VAR rage and Jota's winner
The second that overturned penalty decision hit, the internet lost its mind. And Jota's late winner just poured more fuel on the fire. Fans are split between calling the VAR call "correct and brave" or "an absolute robbery" – no middle ground, as usual.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
Reporter's take: this felt like a statement
From a young reporter's eye test, this didn't just look like three points – it looked like a message. Liverpool played like a side that absolutely refuses to step aside in this title race. The press was brave, the subs were bold, and the big players delivered when it mattered.
For City, it's not meltdown territory, but there are warning signs. When Haaland doesn't dominate and De Bruyne gets squeezed, they suddenly look a lot more human. Pep's going to have some serious questions to answer about game management once Jota came on and the tempo went crazy.
If this is the level both teams are bringing heading into the Champions League knockouts, we're in for fireworks across Europe. But domestically, tonight belongs to Anfield – and to Salah and Jota, who took a script written for Haaland and ripped it up in front of a global audience.
What's next – and where to dive deeper
You can feel it: this result is going to be replayed, debated and argued about all week. Title implications, top scorers today, momentum swings – it's all in play. If you're tracking every twist in the Premier League live picture, you need the numbers to match the emotions.
Check full stats & standings now
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