Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Salah & Haaland light up title race

Liverpool edge Man City in a wild Anfield classic as Salah and Haaland trade goals – but one late twist and a huge VAR call steal the headlines.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-01-26, the pitch is on fire... You wanted chaos, drama and elite soccer games? Anfield just delivered a Premier League live epic as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-2 in a game that swung the title race and sent social media into absolute meltdown.

The Premier League served up another blockbuster: Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland both on the scoresheet, a late winner, and a massive VAR offside check that had everyone holding their breath. If you missed this one, you missed pure football madness.

Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City: Heavyweight classic

From the first whistle this felt like Champions League news levels of intensity, not just another league fixture. Both sides flew out of the blocks, and we barely had time to breathe before the net started shaking.

11’ – Goal Liverpool (1–0): Mohamed Salah
Did you see that?? Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped a trademark diagonal into the right channel, Darwin Núñez bullied his marker and squared low. Mohamed Salah took one touch, opened his body and whipped it past Ederson into the far corner. Vintage Salah, ice cold in front of the Kop.

24’ – Goal Man City (1–1): Erling Haaland
You knew he wouldn’t stay quiet. Kevin De Bruyne, back pulling strings like a puppet master, slid Haaland through with a perfectly weighted pass. One touch to set, one thunderous hit across Alisson. Erling Haaland made it look stupidly easy – 1–1 and City right back in it.

38’ – Goal Liverpool (2–1): Darwin Núñez
Chaos merchant, hero, villain – today, Núñez was pure chaos in the best way. A whipped corner from Dominik Szoboszlai caused mayhem, City failed to clear, and Núñez smashed a bouncing ball into the roof of the net from close range. The Anfield roar after that strike? Different level.

Second half: Stars under the spotlight

Pep Guardiola tweaked things at half-time, shoving Phil Foden inside and giving De Bruyne even more freedom. Liverpool, though, smelled blood in one of those classic soccer games where the energy inside the ground feels like it’s physically pushing the team forward.

57’ – Goal Man City (2–2): Phil Foden
Jack Grealish, quiet in the first half, suddenly woke up. He drifted inside, drew two defenders and laid off to Foden on the edge of the box. One quick shuffle onto his left, curler into the top corner. Alisson got fingertips, but not enough. Foden’s technique was outrageous – a proper world-class finish.

At this point, all the famous names were under the microscope:

• Erling Haaland looked ruthless but increasingly isolated as Liverpool pushed higher. He’ll be fuming at not finding a second.
• Mohamed Salah wasn’t just about the goal – his link-up, pressing, and leadership carried Liverpool through the rough spells.
• Kevin De Bruyne created chance after chance but faded slightly as Liverpool’s midfield intensity cranked up late on.
• Virgil van Dijk had a few nervy moments early but marshalled the box superbly during City’s late onslaught.

85’ – The VAR storm and the winner

Anfield absolutely exploded in the final minutes. First, the controversy.

84’ – Disallowed goal Man City: Erling Haaland (VAR offside)
City thought they’d stolen it. De Bruyne whipped in a wicked ball, Haaland got across his man and flicked it past Alisson. Guardiola was sprinting down the touchline, City players piling into the corner. But then – the dreaded signal. VAR check.

The replay showed Haaland’s shoulder just ahead of the last defender when the ball was played. We’re talking millimetres. After a long review, the referee chalked it off for offside. City fans furious, Liverpool fans laughing it up. That call is the social media hot topic tonight, no question.

89’ – Goal Liverpool (3–2): Dominik Szoboszlai
While everyone was still arguing about the VAR decision, Liverpool went up the other end and ripped the script apart. Salah drifted inside, slipped a perfect reverse pass into Szoboszlai, who had ghosted in from midfield. First-time strike, low across Ederson into the far corner. Absolute scenes. The stadium went wild, Klopp sprinting down the touchline, subs tumbling everywhere. That’s the moment that might define Liverpool’s season.

What it means for the football league table

This result flips the Premier League live narrative on its head. Liverpool jump above Manchester City and crank up the pressure on everyone chasing them. City, who could’ve taken control of the title race, instead walk away with nothing after being a VAR decision away from a famous away win.

Liverpool’s attack looks fluid, Salah is still that guy in big games, and Núñez is becoming a nightmare to defend. City, meanwhile, know they’re still right in the race, but dropped points like this sting hard when you look at how tight the table is near the top.

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

Social Media Spotlight: Everyone talking VAR & Szoboszlai

The reaction online is pure chaos. Half of the timeline is raging about the VAR offside on Haaland, the other half is spamming Szoboszlai goal clips from every angle. Salah’s clutch gene is trending once again, and Liverpool fans are already firing off title-charge compilations.

Reporter’s take: Statement win, brutal lesson

From my seat, this felt like one of those season-defining soccer games. Liverpool didn’t just beat City; they matched their quality and then out-fought them in the key moments. Salah delivering yet again in a huge game only cements his legacy – every time the pressure ramps up, he turns into a machine.

Darwin Núñez deserves massive credit too. His touch still deserts him here and there, but his movement, aggression and constant running broke City’s defensive rhythm. Szoboszlai, though, is the headline closer: big energy, big lungs, and the coolest finish on the pitch when it mattered most.

On the flip side, City will feel robbed, but they also let the game get away from them. You can complain about VAR all you like, but switching off straight after that decision is what killed them. For a side aiming to dominate both the league and the Champions League, that’s a brutal lesson.

Guardiola’s stars had mixed nights: Haaland scored and had another marginally ruled out but was too isolated late on; De Bruyne was majestic at times but couldn’t take full control; Foden produced one moment of magic but drifted in and out. In a match this big, tiny details decide everything – and today, those details went Liverpool’s way.

Closing whistle: Strap in, the run-in is going to be wild

If today is a preview of the run-in, the title race is going to be absolute madness. Huge goals, massive names stepping up, VAR at the centre of the storm, and every point feeling like a final. Liverpool land a huge punch, but City are far from finished – and both still have Champions League nights on the horizon to juggle.

Want to see exactly how tight it is at the top and who’s breathing down their necks?

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.