Liverpool v Man City live drama: De Bruyne stunner, Haaland hurt, title race wild
20.02.2026 - 04:48:06 | ad-hoc-news.de
Premier League live chaos: Liverpool 2-2 Man City – pure madness
This one had everything. Goals, drama, nerves, and the biggest stars either shining or stumbling under the floodlights.
Manchester City drew first blood. On 18 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and smashed a right-footed strike past Alisson. 1-0 City, and Anfield went dead silent for a second. That's KDB in full "big game" mode: head up, one touch, bang.
Liverpool hit back before the break. In the 39th minute, Darwin Núñez bullied Rúben Dias to win a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, nodding it down into the corner for 1-1. Núñez has had wild days in front of goal, but tonight he was all chaos in the best way: relentless pressing, constant runs, and that crucial header.
After half-time, the game exploded. On 54 minutes, City retook the lead with a classic Pep Guardiola pattern: Phil Foden slipped a slick pass into the channel, Erling Haaland peeled off his marker and drilled a low finish across Alisson for 2-1. Clinical, zero backlift. That finish is why he terrifies every back line on earth.
But the real twist came soon after. Around the 63rd minute, Haaland pulled up holding his hamstring after chasing a long ball. He tried to run it off, shook his head, and finally walked off down the tunnel. Absolute pin-drop moment. Without him, City lost their focal point and suddenly looked human.
Liverpool smelled blood. They pinned City back, and in the 78th, Anfield exploded. Luis Díaz jinked through two defenders, squared it low, and Mohamed Salah arrived with that signature left-foot finish into the far corner. 2-2, arms in the air, Klopp going crazy on the touchline. Salah hadn't been electric all game, but when the chance came, he was ice-cold. That's what world-class looks like.
Stars under the spotlight: heroes, flops and everything in between
- Kevin De Bruyne – an absolute conductor. One goal, several line-splitting passes, and every City attack seemed to run through him. If City win the title this year, nights like this from KDB are why.
- Mohamed Salah – quiet-ish first half, decisive second. He dragged Liverpool back into it with his equaliser and drew double-marking all night, opening lanes for Díaz and Núñez.
- Erling Haaland – clinical finish for his goal, but the story now is that suspected hamstring. One goal scored, huge question mark after. If this injury is serious, City's whole season changes.
- Phil Foden – clever assist for Haaland, classy touches, but faded as Liverpool ramped up the tempo.
- Virgil van Dijk – had his hands full with Haaland, lost him once for the goal, but was otherwise rock solid in the air and huge in the final 20 minutes when City tried to nick it late.
VAR drama and thin margins
You knew it wouldn't be a modern Premier League classic without VAR. The biggest flashpoint came in the 71st minute. Liverpool thought they had a penalty when Núñez went down under a challenge from Kyle Walker. The referee pointed to the spot, Anfield exploded, and then VAR stepped in.
After a long check, the penalty was overturned for the slightest pull from Núñez on Walker in the build-up. From the stands to social media, fans were fuming. Half the stadium was chanting, Klopp was raging on the sideline, and City players were celebrating like they'd scored. The margins in this league are razor-thin, and this call is going to be clipped and debated all week.
What it means for the football league table
This draw feels like a win for Liverpool emotionally, but on paper it keeps both sides locked in a brutal race. City miss the chance to pull clear, while Liverpool stop the bleeding and keep themselves firmly in the title chase. Arsenal and the chasing pack will love this; the door is still wide open.
City stay slightly ahead, but if Haaland is out for a spell, those points dropped tonight could look massive in May. Liverpool, meanwhile, will feel their momentum is building again – especially with Salah back on the scoresheet in a huge game.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League contenders send warning shots
Across the continent, the Champions League news is just as loud. In La Liga, Jude Bellingham added another goal to his ridiculous tally for Real Madrid, arriving late into the box and slotting home after Vinícius Júnior shredded his full-back. Madrid's 2-0 win keeps them top and humming, and Bellingham looks more and more like the heartbeat of that side.
In Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé did what Kylian Mbappé does: one goal, one assist, and three defenders left on the floor as PSG cruised. His solo run for the opener – picking the ball up near halfway, blowing past his marker, and firing low into the corner – was pure video game stuff. Defenders know exactly what's coming and still can't stop it.
All of this feeds straight into the Champions League narrative. If City lose Haaland for any stretch, Real Madrid and PSG will absolutely fancy their chances. Top scorers today across the big leagues are almost all the same names you expect to see deep in Europe.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans melting down over the overturned VAR penalty and Haaland's injury scare
My take: this felt bigger than just one game
From a young reporter's angle, this didn't just feel like another entry in the list of Premier League live blockbusters. It felt like a pivot point in the season. Liverpool proved they can go toe-to-toe with City again, and not just in moments – over the full 90, with aggression, belief, and proper quality.
For City, there's a bit of a storm cloud now. De Bruyne is still the most intelligent midfielder on the planet, but if Haaland is seriously hurt, Pep has a real puzzle to solve. In my opinion, if that hamstring scan comes back bad, City shift from "title favourites" to "fighting for it" in a hurry. Someone else will have to step up in the scoring charts.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will walk away thinking: "We can still win this whole thing." Salah scoring, Díaz terrorising full-backs, Anfield roaring – it felt like the old heavyweight version of them. Defensively, they still give up too many big chances, but with this attack, they're never out of any match.
Closing whistle: this title race is absolutely alive
So where does that leave us tonight? We've got a football league table that's tighter than ever, top scorers today adding fuel to the Golden Boot race, and Champions League contenders quietly watching the chaos in England with big smiles.
If you love soccer games with everything on the line – stars, drama, controversy, and that feeling that every kick matters – this was your night. And it's only February. The run-in is going to be wild.
Check full stats & standings now
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