Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Anfield erupts as title race twists

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild Anfield battle as Salah and Haaland trade blows – but one late winner flips the Premier League live title race on its head.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-26, the pitch is on fire... Did you see that Liverpool vs Manchester City showdown at Anfield? If you were searching for football results today and somehow missed it, you’ve just dodged a heart attack. This was chaos, drama, and pure title-race madness rolled into 90 minutes.

Premier League Live: Anfield turns into a title-race furnace

Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City. That’s the headline result rocking the Premier League live table tonight. Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland went punch for punch, but it was a late screamer that stole the show and might just define this season.

City struck first on 17 minutes when Erling Haaland did exactly what Erling Haaland does. Kevin De Bruyne – of course – slid a ridiculous reverse pass between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, and Haaland snapped a left-foot finish low past Alisson. One chance, one goal. Clinical. Robot mode.

Anfield was stunned but not silent for long. On 31 minutes, Liverpool woke up through their main man. Mohamed Salah drifted in from the right, played a sharp one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, and whipped a left-foot curler into the far corner. Ederson got a glove, but the strike had too much venom. 1–1, and Salah’s celebration in front of the Kop said it all – this was personal.

Right before the break, Liverpool flipped the script. From a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner, chaos ensued. The ball bounced off Manuel Akanji, and Darwin Núñez pounced, smashing home from close range in the 44th minute. Anfield exploded. Núñez, who’d been criticised for missed chances in recent weeks, answered the noise with a ruthless poacher’s finish.

Second-half chaos: Haaland vs Salah, VAR drama, and a late-worldie decider

City came out furious after the restart. Pep Guardiola pushed Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva higher, and it paid off. In the 63rd minute, Foden roasted Andy Robertson down the flank and fired a low cross into the six-yard area. Alisson got a touch but palmed it straight into danger, and who else but Erling Haaland was there to tap in his second of the night. 2–2, and suddenly the away end was bouncing.

Then came the controversy. On 72 minutes, City thought they’d grabbed the lead when Bernardo Silva clipped a gorgeous ball over the top, and Julián Álvarez volleyed home. The flag stayed down, City celebrated, but VAR stepped in. After a long, tense check, the goal was ruled out – Haaland adjudged offside in the build-up and interfering with play. X was instantly on fire with fans screaming about the offside lines and frame selection.

And while everyone was still arguing about VAR, Liverpool landed the knockout. On 84 minutes, substitute Luis Díaz picked up the ball on the left, cut inside, and rolled it back to Trent Alexander-Arnold at the edge of the box. Time stopped. Trent took one touch and then smashed a right-foot rocket into the top-right corner. Ederson barely moved. 3–2, absolute bedlam. That’s the kind of goal you remember when people talk about this season in five years.

Heroes, flops, and the big names under the spotlight

Mohamed Salah was everywhere. One goal, constant menace, and endless pressing from the front. His link-up with Núñez and Díaz gave City’s back four problems all game. On nights like this, you’re reminded why he’s still one of the world’s deadliest forwards.

Erling Haaland did his job – two goals, brutal movement, relentless threat. You cannot pin this on him. Any other night, a brace at Anfield wins you the game. Instead, he walks off looking furious as Trent grabs the headlines.

Kevin De Bruyne was silk and steel at once – one assist, multiple chances created – but he faded late as Liverpool’s midfield intensity went through the roof. For City, the worry will be at the back: Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji struggled with the pace and chaos of Liverpool’s front line, especially on transition.

For Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold is tonight’s poster boy. A match-winning goal, huge energy up the right, and decent defensive concentration against Foden. When he plays like this, he looks every bit the world-class hybrid full-back/midfielder people hype him to be.

Title race shockwaves: how the table looks now

This result blows the title race wide open. Liverpool’s win nudges them ahead of City and keeps the pressure on the rest of the chasing pack. City, who could have gone top with a victory, now find themselves chasing again with less margin for error in the run-in. Every fixture from here on out has that must-win edge.

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

Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham and Mbappé keep Champions League hype alive

In Spain, Jude Bellingham once again grabbed the spotlight for Real Madrid. In a 2–0 league win, he was on the scoresheet with a late run into the box, tucking away a Vinícius Júnior cutback. The other goal? A cool finish from Rodrygo after a slick one-two with Federico Valverde. Bellingham might not have been at his absolute outrageous best, but even at 80%, he still oozes control and timing.

Over in France, Kylian Mbappé continued to make Ligue 1 look like his personal playground. A brace – one penalty, one vicious right-foot strike from the edge of the area – powered PSG to a 3–1 win, with Ousmane Dembélé adding the third. Mbappé’s body language screamed: 22I’m not done here yet.22 With Champions League nights coming up, he’s building momentum at exactly the right moment.

Social Media Spotlight: the moment everyone is arguing about

The top trend tonight? That disallowed Julián Álvarez goal at Anfield. The offside call on Haaland in the build-up has split the football world right down the middle. Liverpool fans are calling it justice after weeks of feeling hard done by VAR, while City fans are absolutely convinced the lines were drawn wrong. Clips, freeze-frames, and zoomed screenshots are everywhere.

Reporter27s take: this felt like a statement night

From where I27m sitting, this was more than just three points for Liverpool. This felt like a statement that they’re not ready to step aside and let City stroll to another title. The energy, the pressing, the refusal to crumble even when Haaland kept punching back – it all screamed contender vibes.

As for City, I’m going to say it: the aura of invincibility isn’t quite the same this season. They’re still a machine, still stacked with world-class talent, but defensively they look that tiny bit more vulnerable. If Guardiola doesn’t tighten things up at the back, these knife-edge games could keep slipping away.

Trent’s winner? Absolute world-class moment. That’s the kind of goal kids will be trying to recreate in parks tomorrow. And the Salah–Haaland duel delivered everything we hoped for: goals, intensity, big-game swagger.

What27s next?

The Premier League isn’t waiting for anyone. Fixtures are coming fast, and every dropped point is going to be magnified from here on. Europe is calling too – Champions League news is going to be locked in on how sides like Liverpool, City, Real Madrid, and PSG carry this league form into the biggest stage.

If you’re tracking football results today, this Anfield classic might just be the match we all look back on as the turning point in the title chase.

Check full stats & standings now

---

Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.