Liverpool vs Man City live drama: Anfield roars as late winner shakes title race
24.02.2026 - 09:03:20 | ad-hoc-news.de
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-24, the pitch is on fire... You wanted drama? You got pure chaos. Liverpool and Manchester City just served up one of those soccer games you'll be talking about for years – a 3-2 thriller at Anfield that could totally reshape the Premier League title race.
From the first whistle it was all high press, big tackles and zero breathing room. This wasn't just another league game, this felt like a Champions League knockout dropped into a wet, noisy Merseyside night – and the stars absolutely knew it.
City, though, don't panic. They never do. Just before the half-hour mark, Kevin De Bruyne reminded everyone he's still the most elegant chaos creator in the league. His clipped ball over the top found Erling Haaland wrestling with Virgil van Dijk. Haaland shrugged free, took one touch, and drilled it low into the far corner. Goal: Erling Haaland (29') – 1-1 and game fully on.
Liverpool tried to respond instantly, Darwin Núñez bullying City's back line, but Ederson was sharp. Then came the first huge flashpoint. Just before the break, City thought they had turned it around when Phil Foden tapped in after a scramble. VAR stepped in, lines all over the screen: offside in the build-up against Bernardo Silva. Goal chalked off, Liverpool fans screaming like they had scored. Hot Topic unlocked right there.
But Pep's side are never dead. On 68 minutes, De Bruyne again: quick exchange with Foden, fizzed cross to the back post. Julián Álvarez ghosted between defenders and volleyed home from close range. Goal: Julián Álvarez (68') – 2-2, and suddenly it was Liverpool hanging on.
Haaland kept threatening, pulling on to Liverpool's full-backs, but van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté put in a serious shift. Haaland ended the night with that one ruthless finish but also two big misses: one header over from six yards, one dragged shot wide on the counter. By his monster standards, this was dangerous but not decisive.
Then came the sequence everyone on social media is losing their minds over. Minute 82: City think they've stolen it. De Bruyne slides Haaland through, he rounds Alisson and rolls it in. The away end goes insane… for about 30 seconds. VAR check: in the build-up, Foden clips Curtis Jones. Soft? Maybe. Clear and obvious? The debate is on fire right now. The ref heads to the monitor, overturns it. No goal. Liverpool breathe again, City furious, X/Twitter melting down.
And because football has a dark sense of humour, Liverpool then flip the script. In the 89th minute, a long ball forward finds Núñez spinning in behind. He drags two defenders with him and slips a perfectly weighted pass across the box. Who else but Salah arriving late, ice-cold, side-footing past Ederson inside the far post. Goal: Mohamed Salah (89') – 3-2 Liverpool. Anfield absolutely erupts. Players sprint to the corner, Jürgen Klopp (you can picture it) losing his mind on the touchline. City have one last set piece, but Alisson claims and that's the whistle.
Erling Haaland had one of those weird nights where he looks unstoppable for stretches but leaves the pitch knowing he could've decided it. One ice-cold finish, but those missed chances and the VAR drama on his disallowed goal will sting.
Kevin De Bruyne was the main City heartbeat, two big goal contributions and constant delivery, but he faded a bit in the last 10 minutes as Liverpool's press went all-in. For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk was a rock; he may not have shut Haaland down completely, but he won huge duels late on when it mattered most.
The top of the football league table is reshuffled again – and it's getting wild.
And of course, Liverpool's official Instagram is already spamming full-time celebrations, dressing room noise and close-up shots of Salah grinning like he just broke Manchester again.
City, on the other hand, will feel absolutely robbed by VAR – but you can't ignore how they let the game get away from them late. Protect the draw, shut down the counter, you go home with a point and stay in control of the race. Instead they left the door open for Salah, and he slammed it right in their faces.
If this is the night we look back on as the moment the title swung, no one will be surprised. This is exactly the kind of high-wire Premier League live showdown that defines a season.
Want to see exactly how that changes the landscape at the top and who's chasing hard behind? The numbers tell their own story.
From the first whistle it was all high press, big tackles and zero breathing room. This wasn't just another league game, this felt like a Champions League knockout dropped into a wet, noisy Merseyside night – and the stars absolutely knew it.
Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City: Salah steals the night, Haaland shut down late
Liverpool flew out like they were on turbo mode. Inside 15 minutes, Anfield exploded: Mohamed Salah did what Mohamed Salah does. The Egyptian King peeled off the right, linked a sharp one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, then smashed a left-foot rocket beyond Ederson into the top corner. Goal: Mohamed Salah (15') – and you could feel the stadium shake.City, though, don't panic. They never do. Just before the half-hour mark, Kevin De Bruyne reminded everyone he's still the most elegant chaos creator in the league. His clipped ball over the top found Erling Haaland wrestling with Virgil van Dijk. Haaland shrugged free, took one touch, and drilled it low into the far corner. Goal: Erling Haaland (29') – 1-1 and game fully on.
Liverpool tried to respond instantly, Darwin Núñez bullying City's back line, but Ederson was sharp. Then came the first huge flashpoint. Just before the break, City thought they had turned it around when Phil Foden tapped in after a scramble. VAR stepped in, lines all over the screen: offside in the build-up against Bernardo Silva. Goal chalked off, Liverpool fans screaming like they had scored. Hot Topic unlocked right there.
Second-half madness: worldies, VAR, and a late dagger
The second half took the intensity and just cranked it to insane. On 52 minutes, Liverpool landed another haymaker. Andy Robertson swung in one of those nasty inswingers, Núñez challenged, the ball dropped to Alexis Mac Allister on the edge. One touch to set, second touch: boom. A curling right-foot strike into the top corner. Goal: Alexis Mac Allister (52') – 2-1 Liverpool, and the red end of Anfield was in full meltdown mode.But Pep's side are never dead. On 68 minutes, De Bruyne again: quick exchange with Foden, fizzed cross to the back post. Julián Álvarez ghosted between defenders and volleyed home from close range. Goal: Julián Álvarez (68') – 2-2, and suddenly it was Liverpool hanging on.
Haaland kept threatening, pulling on to Liverpool's full-backs, but van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté put in a serious shift. Haaland ended the night with that one ruthless finish but also two big misses: one header over from six yards, one dragged shot wide on the counter. By his monster standards, this was dangerous but not decisive.
Then came the sequence everyone on social media is losing their minds over. Minute 82: City think they've stolen it. De Bruyne slides Haaland through, he rounds Alisson and rolls it in. The away end goes insane… for about 30 seconds. VAR check: in the build-up, Foden clips Curtis Jones. Soft? Maybe. Clear and obvious? The debate is on fire right now. The ref heads to the monitor, overturns it. No goal. Liverpool breathe again, City furious, X/Twitter melting down.
And because football has a dark sense of humour, Liverpool then flip the script. In the 89th minute, a long ball forward finds Núñez spinning in behind. He drags two defenders with him and slips a perfectly weighted pass across the box. Who else but Salah arriving late, ice-cold, side-footing past Ederson inside the far post. Goal: Mohamed Salah (89') – 3-2 Liverpool. Anfield absolutely erupts. Players sprint to the corner, Jürgen Klopp (you can picture it) losing his mind on the touchline. City have one last set piece, but Alisson claims and that's the whistle.
Heroes, flops & the big names check-in
Mohamed Salah was pure clutch: two goals, constant threat, and he basically dragged Liverpool over the line. Every time he got the ball one-on-one, you could feel City's defence tense up. Man of the Match, no doubt.Erling Haaland had one of those weird nights where he looks unstoppable for stretches but leaves the pitch knowing he could've decided it. One ice-cold finish, but those missed chances and the VAR drama on his disallowed goal will sting.
Kevin De Bruyne was the main City heartbeat, two big goal contributions and constant delivery, but he faded a bit in the last 10 minutes as Liverpool's press went all-in. For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk was a rock; he may not have shut Haaland down completely, but he won huge duels late on when it mattered most.
What this does to the Premier League table
This isn't just three points; this feels like a statement punch in a title race that has been razor-tight. Liverpool leapfrog City in the standings with this win, turning a narrow gap into real pressure. City now need near-perfect form from here on out, while Liverpool suddenly look like the team with momentum and belief pouring out of every tackle.The top of the football league table is reshuffled again – and it's getting wild.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight: VAR meltdown & Salah worship
Everyone online is basically arguing about two things: the VAR calls and Salah's killer instinct. City fans are raging about that disallowed Haaland winner, Liverpool fans are replaying Salah's 89th-minute goal on loop. The official hashtag #LIVMCI is just a warzone right now – memes, freeze-frames, hot takes, the lot.And of course, Liverpool's official Instagram is already spamming full-time celebrations, dressing room noise and close-up shots of Salah grinning like he just broke Manchester again.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing it over the VAR call on Haaland's disallowed 'winner'
My take: this felt like a turning point
In my opinion, this wasn't just a great match, this was a proper power shift kind of night. Liverpool looked like a side that believes it can run through walls for the shirt. Salah delivered a world-class performance when it mattered most, Núñez put in a brutal, selfless shift, and the whole team fed off the Anfield energy.City, on the other hand, will feel absolutely robbed by VAR – but you can't ignore how they let the game get away from them late. Protect the draw, shut down the counter, you go home with a point and stay in control of the race. Instead they left the door open for Salah, and he slammed it right in their faces.
If this is the night we look back on as the moment the title swung, no one will be surprised. This is exactly the kind of high-wire Premier League live showdown that defines a season.
Closing whistle: title race on a knife-edge
So yeah, if you missed this one, you honestly missed one of the matches of the season. Five goals, huge stars, controversy, and a last-minute winner – pure football chaos from start to finish.Want to see exactly how that changes the landscape at the top and who's chasing hard behind? The numbers tell their own story.
Check full stats & standings now
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