Liverpool vs Man City LIVE thriller: late drama shakes Premier League race

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild Anfield classic – Salah, Haaland and a shock late hero decide everything. Did this just flip the title race on its head?

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-22, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today? You got pure chaos. At Anfield, Liverpool and Manchester City just ripped the Premier League wide open with a breathless 3-2 home win for Liverpool that had absolutely everything – superstar goals, nerve-shredding VAR, and one unlikely hero stealing the headlines at the death.

Premier League live drama: Liverpool 3-2 Man City – Anfield explodes

If you like your football results today packed with chaos, this was your match. Liverpool started like they’d been shot out of a cannon. On 12 minutes, Mohamed Salah did exactly what Mohamed Salah does – drifting inside from the right, swapping a slick one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai before drilling a left-foot rocket into the far corner. Goal: Mohamed Salah (12') – Anfield absolutely erupted.

City, though, didn’t blink. On 27 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne picked the lock with a filthy pass through the lines, and you already know who was on the end of it. Erling Haaland bullied his marker, took one touch, and buried a low finish past the keeper. Goal: Erling Haaland (27'). Clinical, cold, pure Haaland.

The game turned wild before half-time. Liverpool thought they had a second when Darwin Núñez bundled in from close range on 38 minutes after a Salah cross caused chaos. But VAR stepped in, checking a marginal offside. The stadium went silent, then furious, as the referee finally ruled it out – the toe of Núñez just beyond the last defender. Massive call, huge boos, and the noise levels went nuclear.

Right after the break, Liverpool re-lit the fire. On 52 minutes, Szoboszlai won the ball high, fed Luis Díaz on the flank, and Díaz whipped in a teasing ball. Núñez made the near-post run and this time timed it to perfection, glancing a header inside the far post. Goal: Darwin Núñez (52'). Redemption arc activated.

But City, being City, just kept swinging. On 69 minutes, De Bruyne’s corner wasn’t cleared properly, the ball bounced to the edge of the box and Phil Foden absolutely hammered a half-volley through a forest of legs. A tiny deflection sent the ball spinning past the helpless keeper. Goal: Phil Foden (69') – 2-2, and you could feel the entire stadium forget how to breathe.

Then came the flashpoint everyone is arguing about. On 81 minutes, Haaland burst into the box and tumbled under pressure from Virgil van Dijk. The referee pointed to the spot instantly. VAR got involved again, replay after replay showing minimal contact and Haaland maybe going down a little too easily. After a long review, the decision was overturned. No penalty. City players lost their minds, Guardiola fumed on the touchline, and social media went straight into meltdown.

And just when it felt like the points would be shared, Anfield had one last twist. Substitute Diogo Jota became the unexpected hero. In the 89th minute, Salah slid a pass into the inside-right channel, Jota chopped inside his marker and smashed a low shot across the keeper into the far corner. Goal: Diogo Jota (89'). Absolute scenes. The noise was unreal, players piling on, Klopp sprinting down the touchline like a man possessed.

Stars under the spotlight: heroes and flops

Mohamed Salah was pure big-game energy – a goal, an assist, and constant menace every time he got the ball. He faded a little late on, but he dragged Liverpool into the right spaces all game. Darwin Núñez lived the full Núñez experience: one disallowed goal, one crucial header, relentless running, chaos every time he pressed.

For City, Erling Haaland got his goal – of course he did – but he’ll be fuming about that overturned penalty. You could see the frustration in every run after that VAR call. Kevin De Bruyne was peak KDB: one assist, several outrageous passes, but he just couldn’t find that killer moment late on when City needed it most.

Defensively, Virgil van Dijk had a strangely mixed afternoon. He handled Haaland well at times, but that penalty shout will be replayed all week. On the other side, Rúben Dias and the City backline never really looked comfortable dealing with Liverpool’s pace and movement.

What this result means for the title race

This win is enormous for Liverpool. Those three points don’t just keep them in the title race – they might have swung momentum completely. City, who could’ve gone top with a win, now find themselves chasing instead of cruising, and the pressure is suddenly very real.

With the Premier League top three packed tightly together, every point is gold. Liverpool’s victory bumps them up, squeezes City, and gives the chasing pack hope that Guardiola’s machine can actually be rattled this season.

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

Other key football results today

Across Europe, there was more heat. In La Liga, Real Madrid kept their grip on top spot with a hard-fought 2-1 home win. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a clever late run into the box and a cool finish – Goal: Jude Bellingham – before the visitors hit back with a scrappy equaliser. It took a second-half strike from Vinícius Júnior, cutting inside and bending one into the far corner, to settle the game. Goal: Vinícius Júnior. Bellingham wasn’t at his absolute best, but when it mattered, he still showed that clutch mentality.

Over in Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé did Mbappé things again as his side won 3-1. He bagged a brace – Goal: Kylian Mbappé x2 – first with a ruthless one-on-one finish, then a curling effort from the edge of the area. The third came from a teammate cleaning up a rebound. Mbappé looked untouchable; defenders just couldn’t live with his pace. If we’re talking top scorers today, his name is right near the top of the list.

Social Media Spotlight: Liverpool vs Man City goes viral

While the action was wild on the grass, online it was absolutely unhinged. One theme dominated: that overturned Haaland penalty and the VAR drama that followed. Some fans are calling it a disgrace, others saying the referee finally had the courage to overturn a soft call. Either way, that moment might be the most talked-about decision of the season so far.

My take: this felt like a statement night

From a reporter’s eye view, this felt bigger than just another Premier League classic. Liverpool didn’t just beat City; they went toe-to-toe with the most dominant side of the era and refused to back down. In my opinion, this was a full-on statement that the title race is absolutely on – and Klopp’s side are not just passengers.

City will point to that non-penalty, and honestly, you can see why they’re furious. On another day, that call stands, Haaland steps up, buries it, and we’re talking about another cold, efficient City comeback instead of a Liverpool party. But this time, the margins went the other way, and it exposed a vulnerability we don’t usually see from Guardiola’s team when the pressure really cranks up.

Salah was world-class, Jota was the hero nobody saw coming, and Anfield reminded everyone why it’s still one of the most intimidating places on the planet. If I’m City, I’m worried – not panicking, but definitely feeling that heat from behind and above in the football league table.

What’s next?

With Champions League nights just around the corner and domestic fixtures stacking up, this result could be the spark that flips the whole season. Liverpool get momentum, belief, and a massive psychological edge. City now have to respond – quickly – in both the league and Europe.

If you’re trying to track how this shakes up the title chase and the battle for Europe, you need to keep an eye on the standings and the form of these top scorers today. Every Haaland goal, every Salah assist, every Bellingham late run – it all feeds into the bigger picture.

Check full stats & standings now

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