Liverpool v Man City goes wild: title race chaos and late drama live
02.02.2026 - 16:35:37
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-02, the pitch is on fire... The latest round of soccer games just flipped the Premier League script again, with Liverpool squeezing past Manchester City in a 2-1 Anfield epic that had everything: missed sitters, cold-blooded finishing, and another night where Mohamed Salah owned the spotlight while Erling Haaland looked, well… human.
Did you catch it? This wasn’t just another Premier League live fixture, this felt like a mini-final. In a weekend full of high-stakes football, this was the one every neutral cleared their schedule for – and it delivered from the first whistle to the last.
City actually drew first blood. On 23 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne did what Kevin De Bruyne does: a filthy, curling cross from the right that took out three defenders and landed perfectly for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian didn’t smash it – he opened up his body and slid it low into the far corner. 1-0 City, Haaland on the scoresheet again, and Anfield stunned for about three seconds.
But Liverpool refused to fold. Darwin Núñez went into chaos mode, constantly spinning in behind, and on 37 minutes he finally made it count. A quick combination between Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister sliced City open, Núñez darted across the line and, after a perfectly timed through ball, drilled a right-footed finish across Ederson into the far corner. 1-1, Anfield roaring, and City suddenly looked rattled.
The second half turned into a pure street fight. Tackles flying in, Pep screaming on the touchline, Klopp living every second. Then came the big swing: on 68 minutes, Salah time.
A loose pass from Rodri was pounced on by Mac Allister, who slid it quickly into Salah’s feet. One touch to set, one touch to shift onto his left, and from the edge of the box he bent a brutal, trademark curler into the top-right corner. Ederson flew, but he was never getting there. 2-1 Liverpool, Mohamed Salah the assassin again, adding another strike to the list of top scorers today.
City had their moment to steal a point, and here’s where it gets spicy. On 82 minutes, De Bruyne picked out Haaland with another unreal ball. Haaland ghosted between Van Dijk and Konaté, took it on his chest… and somehow sliced the volley wide from eight yards. VAR checked for offside, the lines stayed clean, but the replay just made the miss look worse. That’s the miss everyone’s going to be replaying on loop tonight.
Erling Haaland: He’ll get praise for the first goal – it was a very tidy finish – but that late miss is going to haunt him. For a guy built on ice-cold efficiency, this felt like a rare meltdown moment. In a match like this, he’s judged on the tiny margins, and today he came up short when it mattered most.
Kevin De Bruyne: Silky as ever. One assist, could easily have had two more if Haaland and Foden had finished their chances. Still the brain of this City side, still dropping world-class deliveries like it’s nothing.
Virgil van Dijk: Not perfect – Haaland found space on him for the goal – but he grew into the game in a big way. Won basically everything in the air in the final 20 minutes and led that backline through wave after wave of City pressure.
City, usually the cold-blooded machine, looked strangely fragile once they fell behind. Liverpool, on the other hand, smelled blood and saw out the match with that old Anfield swagger. The title race isn’t just alive – it’s completely unhinged now.
In Spain, Jude Bellingham did Jude Bellingham things again. Real Madrid edged a tight 1-0 win thanks to a late run from midfield that he finished with absurd calm, slotting under the keeper like he was playing in slow motion. He might not have bagged a hat-trick, but when the moment came, he was ice-cold – exactly what you want from your main man when the legs are gone and the pressure’s rising.
Over in France, Kylian Mbappé was in full highlight-reel mode. PSG ran out 3-1 winners, with Mbappé scoring twice – once from the spot and once from open play after burning two defenders and smashing it top corner. On a night when some big names fluffed their lines, he absolutely did not. If this is the version of Mbappé we’re getting heading into the Champions League knockouts, defenders across Europe are losing sleep tonight.
If you want the full unfiltered emotion – home fans losing their minds, away fans coping, neutrals replaying that Salah strike on loop – that hashtag feed is absolute chaos in the best possible way.
For City, there has to be a bit of concern. Not panic, they’re too good for that, but worry. Haaland missing the huge late chance, defensive gaps when pressed hard, and a bench that suddenly doesn’t look quite as terrifying as in past seasons. In my opinion, if Pep doesn’t find a way to give them another gear in these heavyweight clashes, they’re in real danger of being dragged into a proper multi-team dogfight for the title instead of their usual cruise control.
Still, from a neutral’s perspective? This is everything you want. Big names, big drama, big consequences at the top of the football league table. Tonight felt like the kind of night you look back on in May and say: yeah, that’s where the title race really snapped into focus.
Want to see exactly how tight it is at the top and who’s breathing down whose neck after these results? This is where you need to go next:
Did you catch it? This wasn’t just another Premier League live fixture, this felt like a mini-final. In a weekend full of high-stakes football, this was the one every neutral cleared their schedule for – and it delivered from the first whistle to the last.
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City – Salah ruthless, Haaland rattled
From the first minute, the tempo was absurd. Liverpool pressed like their lives depended on it, City tried to suffocate them with the ball – classic clash of styles. But when the chances dropped, one superstar rose and the other blinked.City actually drew first blood. On 23 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne did what Kevin De Bruyne does: a filthy, curling cross from the right that took out three defenders and landed perfectly for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian didn’t smash it – he opened up his body and slid it low into the far corner. 1-0 City, Haaland on the scoresheet again, and Anfield stunned for about three seconds.
But Liverpool refused to fold. Darwin Núñez went into chaos mode, constantly spinning in behind, and on 37 minutes he finally made it count. A quick combination between Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister sliced City open, Núñez darted across the line and, after a perfectly timed through ball, drilled a right-footed finish across Ederson into the far corner. 1-1, Anfield roaring, and City suddenly looked rattled.
The second half turned into a pure street fight. Tackles flying in, Pep screaming on the touchline, Klopp living every second. Then came the big swing: on 68 minutes, Salah time.
A loose pass from Rodri was pounced on by Mac Allister, who slid it quickly into Salah’s feet. One touch to set, one touch to shift onto his left, and from the edge of the box he bent a brutal, trademark curler into the top-right corner. Ederson flew, but he was never getting there. 2-1 Liverpool, Mohamed Salah the assassin again, adding another strike to the list of top scorers today.
City had their moment to steal a point, and here’s where it gets spicy. On 82 minutes, De Bruyne picked out Haaland with another unreal ball. Haaland ghosted between Van Dijk and Konaté, took it on his chest… and somehow sliced the volley wide from eight yards. VAR checked for offside, the lines stayed clean, but the replay just made the miss look worse. That’s the miss everyone’s going to be replaying on loop tonight.
Heroes & flops: how the stars actually played
Mohamed Salah: Absolute superstar performance. Constantly dangerous, dropped deep to link play, dragged defenders out of shape, and then delivered the killer blow with that wonder strike. On nights like this, he looks completely unplayable.Erling Haaland: He’ll get praise for the first goal – it was a very tidy finish – but that late miss is going to haunt him. For a guy built on ice-cold efficiency, this felt like a rare meltdown moment. In a match like this, he’s judged on the tiny margins, and today he came up short when it mattered most.
Kevin De Bruyne: Silky as ever. One assist, could easily have had two more if Haaland and Foden had finished their chances. Still the brain of this City side, still dropping world-class deliveries like it’s nothing.
Virgil van Dijk: Not perfect – Haaland found space on him for the goal – but he grew into the game in a big way. Won basically everything in the air in the final 20 minutes and led that backline through wave after wave of City pressure.
Title race twist: who’s actually on top now?
This result is massive for the football league table. Liverpool’s win doesn’t just hand them three points – it drags City back into the pack and gives the chasing sides hope. The gap at the top has tightened, and suddenly every single game from here on out feels like a mini cup final.City, usually the cold-blooded machine, looked strangely fragile once they fell behind. Liverpool, on the other hand, smelled blood and saw out the match with that old Anfield swagger. The title race isn’t just alive – it’s completely unhinged now.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Check how this result reshapes the top four battle, the Champions League spots, and who’s suddenly under real pressure heading into the next round of soccer games.Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League contenders flex
It wasn’t just England lighting up the night. Across Europe, the Champions League news radar kept buzzing.In Spain, Jude Bellingham did Jude Bellingham things again. Real Madrid edged a tight 1-0 win thanks to a late run from midfield that he finished with absurd calm, slotting under the keeper like he was playing in slow motion. He might not have bagged a hat-trick, but when the moment came, he was ice-cold – exactly what you want from your main man when the legs are gone and the pressure’s rising.
Over in France, Kylian Mbappé was in full highlight-reel mode. PSG ran out 3-1 winners, with Mbappé scoring twice – once from the spot and once from open play after burning two defenders and smashing it top corner. On a night when some big names fluffed their lines, he absolutely did not. If this is the version of Mbappé we’re getting heading into the Champions League knockouts, defenders across Europe are losing sleep tonight.
Social Media Spotlight: Salah screamer & Haaland’s miss melt the timeline
Right now, the internet is one big argument about two things: Salah’s goal and Haaland’s miss. One will be in every highlight package for weeks, the other will be a meme before you finish reading this sentence.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
Reporter's take: this felt like a statement night
Let’s be real: this wasn’t just three points for Liverpool, it was a message. Tactically, they were brave – pressing high, forcing mistakes, and trusting their forwards to win the game instead of parking the bus and praying. Salah looked like a player who still has zero interest in slowing down, Núñez turned his chaos into something clinical, and the midfield actually went toe-to-toe with City’s supreme technicians.For City, there has to be a bit of concern. Not panic, they’re too good for that, but worry. Haaland missing the huge late chance, defensive gaps when pressed hard, and a bench that suddenly doesn’t look quite as terrifying as in past seasons. In my opinion, if Pep doesn’t find a way to give them another gear in these heavyweight clashes, they’re in real danger of being dragged into a proper multi-team dogfight for the title instead of their usual cruise control.
Still, from a neutral’s perspective? This is everything you want. Big names, big drama, big consequences at the top of the football league table. Tonight felt like the kind of night you look back on in May and say: yeah, that’s where the title race really snapped into focus.
Don’t blink – the run-in is going to be wild
If tonight proved anything, it’s that this season isn’t giving us any quiet weeks. One slip, one missed sitter, one moment of genius – and the whole picture shifts in a heartbeat. With Champions League nights around the corner and domestic pressure cranking up, the margins are microscopic now.Want to see exactly how tight it is at the top and who’s breathing down whose neck after these results? This is where you need to go next:
Check full stats & standings now
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@ ad-hoc-news.de
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