Liverpool vs Man City live chaos: Núñez stuns Haaland as title race twists

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild Premier League live showdown as Núñez outguns Haaland. Late drama, VAR chaos, and a title race flipped on its head.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-24, the pitch is on fire... Did you see that Liverpool vs Manchester City thriller at Anfield? This is exactly why you can never switch off during late-season soccer games. A 3-2 win for Liverpool, a Darwin Núñez brace, Erling Haaland strangely quiet, and the Premier League live title race has just tilted hard towards the red side of Merseyside.

Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – Núñez goes nuclear, Haaland silenced

This one had everything. Goals, a controversial VAR call, a late winner, and some of the biggest names in world football right in the spotlight.

Liverpool flew out of the blocks. On 14 minutes, Darwin Núñez made it 1-0 with a classic centre-forward finish, darting across his marker to flick in a whipped cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Anfield erupted, Núñez roared into the Kop, and you just felt it: this wasn’t going to be a quiet night.

City, as always, responded. On 31 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne reminded everyone why he is still the passing god of the league. One perfectly weighted ball split Liverpool’s back line and found Phil Foden, who took a touch and drilled it low into the far corner for 1-1. Ice cold. Barely a celebration – just that stare that says: 22We27re not done.22

But this time, the narrative flipped. Right before half-time, Liverpool pounced on chaos. A loose ball fell to Mohamed Salah on the edge of the box. His shot was blocked, but it ricocheted straight to Núñez, who pivoted and smashed in from close range for 2-1 in the 44th minute. A proper poacher27s goal and Núñez27s second of the night.

VAR drama and Haaland frustration

Early in the second half, we got the flashpoint everyone is talking about on social media. City thought they had made it 2-2 when Erling Haaland finally found the net, tucking in a squared pass from Foden. The away section went wild... for about 30 seconds.

Enter VAR. After a lengthy check, the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside in the build-up against Bernardo Silva. We27re talking toenails, millimetres, frame-by-frame freeze. Haaland stood with his arms wide, shaking his head, Guardiola was laughing in total disbelief, and the Anfield crowd loved every second of it.

Instead of sparking his usual domination, Haaland ended the night looking frustrated. He had one big headed chance late on that he usually buries, but sent it over the bar. For a player who lives on hat-tricks, this was a rough one: no goals, no real rhythm, and a cancelled strike he27ll be replaying in his mind all night.

City fight back, but Liverpool land the knockout punch

Credit where it27s due, City didn27t fold. On 68 minutes, they finally got their equaliser. De Bruyne whipped in a deadly inswinging free-kick, Haaland nodded it back across goal, and Rúben Dias arrived to bundle the ball over the line for 2-2. Ugly, scrappy, but massive. City27s bench exploded, and suddenly the momentum was blue.

Yet Liverpool still had one final twist in them. With the clock ticking into the 86th minute, substitute Diogo Jota broke down the left and squared the ball across the box. It looked a touch behind Dominik Szoboszlai, but the Hungarian adjusted brilliantly, letting it run to Curtis Jones, who rolled it back to Salah. One more pass, one final chance: Salah slid it into the path of Alexander-Arnold on the overlap.

Trent took one touch and curled a ridiculous shot into the far corner for 3-2. Absolute screamer. The net bulged, Anfield exploded again, Klopp went racing down the touchline, and the title race swung hard towards Liverpool.

Title race mayhem: how this reshapes the league

This result could be the hinge moment of the season. Liverpool leapfrog City in the football league table, sitting top by a slender margin with just a handful of soccer games left. City now suddenly look chase-mode, not control-mode, and the pressure is on Haaland, De Bruyne and co. to respond fast.

It also throws fuel on the Champions League news storylines. Both clubs are juggling massive midweek fixtures, and fatigue is clearly starting to show, especially in City27s back line. Liverpool, meanwhile, look chaotic but lethal going forward 2D classic Klopp end-of-season energy.

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

Top scorers today: Núñez steals the spotlight

On a night where everyone expected Haaland to dominate the 22top scorers today22 conversation, it was Darwin Núñez who walked off as the headline act. Two goals, relentless pressing, and constant chaos for City27s centre-backs. Salah might have had only the one assist, but his movement and gravity opened space all game long.

For City, De Bruyne was their heartbeat with a goal contribution and constant creativity, but it just wasn27t enough. Foden looked sharp, Dias grabbed his goal, but when your superstar No. 9 has an off night in a game this big, you usually pay for it. And City did.

Social Media Spotlight: VAR rage, Trent love, and memes for days

As soon as that Haaland goal was chalked off by VAR, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube absolutely erupted. Clips of the offside lines, slow-mo replays, freeze frames of Haaland27s face 2D it all blew up instantly. The hot topic? That VAR offside call on Haaland27s disallowed goal. Half the internet is convinced VAR is broken, the other half is screaming 22rules are rules22 and posting screenshots.

Young reporter27s take: this felt like a statement win

I27ll be honest: this didn27t just look like three points, it looked like a power shift. Liverpool played like a team that refuses to let this title slip, even when they wobble. Núñez is still chaos personified, but it27s the good kind of chaos now. When he channels that energy like this, he looks unplayable.

On the flip side, City suddenly look a tiny bit human. Haaland can27t always bail them out, and when he isn27t on it, you see the cracks. The back line looked uncomfortable under Liverpool27s press, and even Guardiola seemed short on answers late on. If City don27t regroup fast, this night might be the one we look back on as the moment their dominance truly got punched in the mouth.

What27s next?

The league run-in is about to go absolutely wild. Every weekend is basically a cup final now. Liverpool have momentum, City have a point to prove, and the rest of the Champions League spots are a cage fight right behind them.

If you27re trying to make sense of where this leaves everyone in the football league table, you need to see it in black and white.

Check full stats & standings now

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