Liverpool v Man City live: Salah & Haaland steal the Premier League spotlight
11.02.2026 - 00:20:34
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-11, the pitch is on fire... You wanted soccer games with chaos, drama, and superstar ego on full blast? You got it. Liverpool vs Manchester City at Anfield just turned the Premier League live race upside down, and everyone is screaming about one moment: a Mohamed Salah penalty under insane pressure, and Erling Haaland answering back like a machine.
This wasn’t just another game – this was a title six-pointer with every pass feeling like it weighed a trophy. From the first whistle, you could feel it: City trying to suffocate Liverpool with the ball, Liverpool trying to rip them apart in transition. And in between all that, the biggest names in world football putting on a show that felt more like Champions League news than a regular league night.
City didn’t panic. They never do. Kevin De Bruyne started threading those disgusting through balls that make defenders age five years per pass. One of them finally broke Liverpool’s line: De Bruyne slid it into space, and Erling Haaland pounced, shrugged off Ibrahima Konaté and drilled a left-footed finish across Alisson for 1–1. Classic Haaland – one touch to set, one touch to kill. No celebration over the top, just that cold stare. Job not done yet.
City thought they’d gone ahead when Phil Foden curled a gorgeous strike into the far corner after Haaland laid it off. The away end exploded, Foden sprinted to the corner flag… and suddenly, VAR check. On the replay, Haaland looked to have tugged Virgil van Dijk’s shirt in the buildup. It wasn’t huge contact, but it was there. After another long look, the ref ruled it out. Goal disallowed. Anfield roared like a volcano; Pep Guardiola almost melted on the touchline.
That VAR call is the hot topic right now – fans split right down the middle. Liverpool fans calling it justice, City fans calling it robbery.
The drama wasn’t done. Jürgen Klopp rolled the dice and brought on Diogo Jota, and the game flipped again. Jota immediately started making nasty runs between the center-backs, and in the 78th minute, it paid off. Salah floated a wicked ball into the box, Jota ghosted between Dias and Joško Gvardiol and powered a header into the corner for 2–1 Liverpool. The entire stadium shook.
City piled everyone forward in the final minutes. De Bruyne whipped in corner after corner, Bernardo Silva spun on the edge of the box, and Haaland nearly grabbed a second with a towering header that flew just over. But Liverpool survived – blocks, tackles, time-wasting, the full Anfield survival kit. Final whistle: Liverpool 2–1 Manchester City.
Erling Haaland: Part hero, part nearly-man. That equaliser was pure Haaland – brutal, efficient, inevitable. But he’ll be haunted by the late header he sent over the bar. On another night he walks away with a brace and the headlines. Tonight, he’s in the match report as dangerous but not decisive.
Kevin De Bruyne: World-class, again. His assist for Haaland and his control in tight spaces were outrageous, but even he couldn’t unlock a packed Liverpool box in stoppage time.
Virgil van Dijk & Alisson: Massive in the last 15 minutes. Blocks, claims, leadership – exactly what you need when City start treating your area like a training drill.
In my opinion, City were a bit too cautious in the first half. When you’ve got Haaland, Foden, and De Bruyne on the pitch, you can’t always play safe. Liverpool, on the other hand, played with that controlled chaos Klopp loves. It wasn’t perfect; it was absolute mayhem at times. But it was brave, and it paid off.
If this is the level we’re going to see for the rest of the season, clear your schedule. Every weekend is going to feel like a final, every mistake like a crisis. The Premier League live narrative just got a brand new chapter, and this one will be replayed on highlight reels for years – especially that VAR moment.
For now, though, Liverpool own the night, Salah owns the headlines, and Haaland leaves Anfield knowing he’ll have to be even more ruthless next time these two collide.
This wasn’t just another game – this was a title six-pointer with every pass feeling like it weighed a trophy. From the first whistle, you could feel it: City trying to suffocate Liverpool with the ball, Liverpool trying to rip them apart in transition. And in between all that, the biggest names in world football putting on a show that felt more like Champions League news than a regular league night.
First-half fireworks: Salah strikes, Haaland stalks
Liverpool drew first blood after a frantic opening. Darwin Núñez bullied his way into the box, forced a clumsy challenge from Rúben Dias, and boom – VAR check. The stadium froze. After a long look, the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Mohamed Salah, eyes locked, crowd holding its breath. He smashed it low to the right, past Ederson for 1–0. Salah, again. Top scorers today? He’s right up there, still writing his own stats in bold.City didn’t panic. They never do. Kevin De Bruyne started threading those disgusting through balls that make defenders age five years per pass. One of them finally broke Liverpool’s line: De Bruyne slid it into space, and Erling Haaland pounced, shrugged off Ibrahima Konaté and drilled a left-footed finish across Alisson for 1–1. Classic Haaland – one touch to set, one touch to kill. No celebration over the top, just that cold stare. Job not done yet.
Second-half chaos: subs, sparks, and that VAR storm
The second half turned into one of those soccer games where you can’t blink. Trent Alexander-Arnold started drifting inside, turning into a quarterback, while Phil Foden began dancing between Liverpool’s lines. Then came the moment that set social media on fire.City thought they’d gone ahead when Phil Foden curled a gorgeous strike into the far corner after Haaland laid it off. The away end exploded, Foden sprinted to the corner flag… and suddenly, VAR check. On the replay, Haaland looked to have tugged Virgil van Dijk’s shirt in the buildup. It wasn’t huge contact, but it was there. After another long look, the ref ruled it out. Goal disallowed. Anfield roared like a volcano; Pep Guardiola almost melted on the touchline.
That VAR call is the hot topic right now – fans split right down the middle. Liverpool fans calling it justice, City fans calling it robbery.
The drama wasn’t done. Jürgen Klopp rolled the dice and brought on Diogo Jota, and the game flipped again. Jota immediately started making nasty runs between the center-backs, and in the 78th minute, it paid off. Salah floated a wicked ball into the box, Jota ghosted between Dias and Joško Gvardiol and powered a header into the corner for 2–1 Liverpool. The entire stadium shook.
City piled everyone forward in the final minutes. De Bruyne whipped in corner after corner, Bernardo Silva spun on the edge of the box, and Haaland nearly grabbed a second with a towering header that flew just over. But Liverpool survived – blocks, tackles, time-wasting, the full Anfield survival kit. Final whistle: Liverpool 2–1 Manchester City.
Heroes, flops, and reputations on the line
Mohamed Salah: Hero. A pressure penalty, a gorgeous assist for Jota, and constantly tormenting Gvardiol down the right. If we’re talking top scorers today in the Premier League live race, he’s still in that golden boot conversation. His big-game aura is ridiculous.Erling Haaland: Part hero, part nearly-man. That equaliser was pure Haaland – brutal, efficient, inevitable. But he’ll be haunted by the late header he sent over the bar. On another night he walks away with a brace and the headlines. Tonight, he’s in the match report as dangerous but not decisive.
Kevin De Bruyne: World-class, again. His assist for Haaland and his control in tight spaces were outrageous, but even he couldn’t unlock a packed Liverpool box in stoppage time.
Virgil van Dijk & Alisson: Massive in the last 15 minutes. Blocks, claims, leadership – exactly what you need when City start treating your area like a training drill.
What this means for the football league table
This result is huge. Liverpool’s win puts them clear at the top of the Premier League table, nudging City down and cranking up the pressure for the rest of the season. The title race just swung like a pendulum in front of the whole world. Arsenal, Spurs, and the chasing pack are suddenly watching every Liverpool touch like it’s life or death.What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
With this three-point swing, City can’t afford many more slip-ups. One bad week and you’re out of the picture. One great week and you’re back in it. That’s how savage this season is.Social Media Spotlight: fans losing their minds
Everyone online is obsessing over that disallowed Foden goal. Was Haaland’s pull on van Dijk really enough for VAR to get involved? Scroll for three seconds and it’s just screenshots, freeze-frames, and slowed-down clips from every angle. Welcome to modern football.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the VAR call on Foden's disallowed goal
My take: this felt like a Champions League knockout
Honestly, this didn’t feel like a regular league game – it felt like a Champions League quarter-final dropped into a domestic schedule. The intensity, the nerves, the superstar duels – Salah vs Haaland, De Bruyne vs Trent, Alisson vs Ederson – it was everything you want from elite soccer games.In my opinion, City were a bit too cautious in the first half. When you’ve got Haaland, Foden, and De Bruyne on the pitch, you can’t always play safe. Liverpool, on the other hand, played with that controlled chaos Klopp loves. It wasn’t perfect; it was absolute mayhem at times. But it was brave, and it paid off.
If this is the level we’re going to see for the rest of the season, clear your schedule. Every weekend is going to feel like a final, every mistake like a crisis. The Premier League live narrative just got a brand new chapter, and this one will be replayed on highlight reels for years – especially that VAR moment.
What's next?
All eyes now swing to the next round of fixtures. City need a response, Liverpool need to prove this wasn’t just a one-night supernova. With Champions League news also heating up soon, squad depth, rotation, and mentality are about to matter more than ever.For now, though, Liverpool own the night, Salah owns the headlines, and Haaland leaves Anfield knowing he’ll have to be even more ruthless next time these two collide.
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