Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Salah, Haaland & a wild late twist
10.02.2026 - 23:45:46
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-10, the pitch is on fire... You wanted crazy soccer games? You got a full-blown epic at Anfield as Liverpool and Manchester City tore into each other in a match that felt like a Premier League title decider dropped right into February. Goals, drama, a VAR storm, and the superstars right at the heart of it.
This one had everything: Mohamed Salah snapping into beast mode, Erling Haaland doing Erling Haaland things, and a late winner that's already melting social media. If you missed it live, you're going to want to catch every second back.
First big punch: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Just when City looked like they were settling in, Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed a diagonal into Luis Díaz, who drove at Kyle Walker and slipped the ball inside. Salah, ice-cold as always, opened his body and buried a low left-footed strike past Ederson into the far corner. 1–0 Liverpool, Anfield absolutely shaking.
Salah wasn't just scoring; he was everywhere. Dropping deep, spinning into space, dragging Rúben Dias around – it was vintage big-game Mo. When Liverpool needed a leader, he stepped up.
City hit back: Erling Haaland does what he does
You can't keep Haaland quiet for 90 minutes, and Liverpool learned that the hard way. Early in the second half, Kevin De Bruyne – who had been quiet by his standards – suddenly woke up. He clipped a filthy ball over the top, Haaland bullied Virgil van Dijk off the line, and smashed a right-footed finish past Alisson from close range.
Goal machine mode: activated. Haaland barely celebrated – straight back to the halfway line, all business. 1–1, nerves everywhere.
In the 84th minute, Núñez made a darting run in behind. Alexis Mac Allister slid the ball through, Núñez got there a split-second before Ederson and was clipped. The referee pointed straight to the spot – but of course, VAR jumped in.
The decision? Penalty stands. After a long check for offside and contact, the call was upheld. City players went wild, Pep Guardiola was close to combusting on the touchline, and Anfield roared like a jet engine.
Up stepped Salah. One of the most famous players in the world, pressure cranked up to max. He stuttered, sent Ederson the wrong way, and smashed the penalty into the top corner. 2–1 Liverpool, and you could practically feel the title-race momentum swing in that one kick.
City still pushed. Haaland had that late header, Bernardo Silva flashed a shot inches wide, but Liverpool held on. When the final whistle went, it felt like a statement night for the Reds – not just a win, but a message: they're fully in this Premier League live title fight.
That one Salah penalty doesn't just decide a match – it reshapes the narrative of the season. Haaland's goal keeps his name high in the top scorers today conversation, but tonight, the headlines belong to Liverpool's No.11.
In Spain, Jude Bellingham reminded everyone why he's box-office. He grabbed a goal and an assist for Real Madrid in a 2–0 win, with Bellingham himself curling home the opener before setting up Vinícius Júnior with a slick through-ball. No drama, just calm domination – the exact kind of match report you want to see if you're a Madrid fan dreaming of European nights.
In France, Kylian Mbappé stayed deep in the spotlight with another goal for PSG – a ruthless penalty slammed into the bottom corner – but he also missed a big one-on-one late on that would have sealed the game. Hero and almost-villain in the same 90 minutes. The Champions League news wave around him isn't slowing down any time soon.
If you scroll that #LIVMCI feed, it's a warzone: split screens of the contact, slow-mo replays of Núñez's touch, side-by-side comparisons with old decisions. Some City fans are calling it a robbery; Liverpool fans are saying it's stonewall. Classic big-game fallout.
For City, there's a bit of a question mark. Haaland scored, De Bruyne assisted, but they never fully felt in command. If they want to keep stacking trophies, they can't afford to get rattled by hostile atmospheres and big decisions going against them. The squad is too stacked to be this fragile when it gets chaotic.
And Salah? He just keeps writing chapters. On a night where top scorers today headlines could easily have been owned by Haaland, it's Salah walking away as the defining figure. Again.
This one had everything: Mohamed Salah snapping into beast mode, Erling Haaland doing Erling Haaland things, and a late winner that's already melting social media. If you missed it live, you're going to want to catch every second back.
Liverpool vs Man City – heavyweight chaos under the lights
From the first whistle, you knew this wasn't going to be a slow burner. Liverpool came flying out, pressing like their lives depended on it, and it paid off inside the opening half hour.First big punch: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Just when City looked like they were settling in, Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed a diagonal into Luis Díaz, who drove at Kyle Walker and slipped the ball inside. Salah, ice-cold as always, opened his body and buried a low left-footed strike past Ederson into the far corner. 1–0 Liverpool, Anfield absolutely shaking.
Salah wasn't just scoring; he was everywhere. Dropping deep, spinning into space, dragging Rúben Dias around – it was vintage big-game Mo. When Liverpool needed a leader, he stepped up.
City hit back: Erling Haaland does what he does
You can't keep Haaland quiet for 90 minutes, and Liverpool learned that the hard way. Early in the second half, Kevin De Bruyne – who had been quiet by his standards – suddenly woke up. He clipped a filthy ball over the top, Haaland bullied Virgil van Dijk off the line, and smashed a right-footed finish past Alisson from close range.
Goal machine mode: activated. Haaland barely celebrated – straight back to the halfway line, all business. 1–1, nerves everywhere.
Key stars: heroes and nearly-men
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – One goal, constant threat. Could have had a second when he curled just wide from the edge of the box. Big-game mentality all over the place.
- Erling Haaland (Man City) – Clinical finish for the equaliser, bullied defenders all night, but he'll be fuming he didn't grab a brace after heading a guilt-edged chance over late on.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – Assist for Haaland, some outrageous passes, but faded right when City needed one more killer ball.
- Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) – Chaos merchant. Missed a huge chance, then crucially made amends with a massive involvement in the winner.
Late drama: Núñez, Salah and the VAR earthquake
The closing 20 minutes were pure mayhem. Both sides looked like they could win it, both looked like they could throw it away. And then came the sequence everyone is arguing about right now.In the 84th minute, Núñez made a darting run in behind. Alexis Mac Allister slid the ball through, Núñez got there a split-second before Ederson and was clipped. The referee pointed straight to the spot – but of course, VAR jumped in.
The decision? Penalty stands. After a long check for offside and contact, the call was upheld. City players went wild, Pep Guardiola was close to combusting on the touchline, and Anfield roared like a jet engine.
Up stepped Salah. One of the most famous players in the world, pressure cranked up to max. He stuttered, sent Ederson the wrong way, and smashed the penalty into the top corner. 2–1 Liverpool, and you could practically feel the title-race momentum swing in that one kick.
City still pushed. Haaland had that late header, Bernardo Silva flashed a shot inches wide, but Liverpool held on. When the final whistle went, it felt like a statement night for the Reds – not just a win, but a message: they're fully in this Premier League live title fight.
What this does to the Premier League title race
With this win, Liverpool leapfrog City in the football league table and crank the pressure on everyone around them. City, who came in looking to tighten their grip near the top, now have to play catch-up instead of cruising.That one Salah penalty doesn't just decide a match – it reshapes the narrative of the season. Haaland's goal keeps his name high in the top scorers today conversation, but tonight, the headlines belong to Liverpool's No.11.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
If you're tracking every twist of the Premier League live drama, that table is going to be your new best friend. Tiny gaps, huge pressure, and every point suddenly feeling like gold dust.Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League news energy building
Across the continent, today's soccer news has one theme: momentum. With Champions League knockout rounds looming, the big hitters are tuning up.In Spain, Jude Bellingham reminded everyone why he's box-office. He grabbed a goal and an assist for Real Madrid in a 2–0 win, with Bellingham himself curling home the opener before setting up Vinícius Júnior with a slick through-ball. No drama, just calm domination – the exact kind of match report you want to see if you're a Madrid fan dreaming of European nights.
In France, Kylian Mbappé stayed deep in the spotlight with another goal for PSG – a ruthless penalty slammed into the bottom corner – but he also missed a big one-on-one late on that would have sealed the game. Hero and almost-villain in the same 90 minutes. The Champions League news wave around him isn't slowing down any time soon.
Social Media Spotlight: Liverpool vs Man City goes nuclear
Everyone is talking about one thing: that penalty. Was Núñez already going down? Did Ederson actually get enough of the ball? Welcome to the biggest online shouting match of the night.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing it over the late VAR penalty call at Anfield
Reporter's take: title-defining vibes
Let's be real: nights like this often decide seasons. In my opinion, this was an absolutely world-class performance from Liverpool in terms of mentality. Not perfect defensively, not flawless on the ball, but the intensity, the belief, the refusal to let City control the script – that's title-winner energy.For City, there's a bit of a question mark. Haaland scored, De Bruyne assisted, but they never fully felt in command. If they want to keep stacking trophies, they can't afford to get rattled by hostile atmospheres and big decisions going against them. The squad is too stacked to be this fragile when it gets chaotic.
And Salah? He just keeps writing chapters. On a night where top scorers today headlines could easily have been owned by Haaland, it's Salah walking away as the defining figure. Again.
One last whistle: where we go from here
From the roar at Anfield to the murmurs around Europe, today's slate of soccer games shook up the storylines everywhere – Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, and the looming Champions League stage. The league table is tightening, the pressure is rising, and every mistake, every moment of magic is suddenly magnified.Check full stats & standings now
Because if tonight proved anything, it's this: one match can flip a title race on its head – and we're nowhere near the final act yet.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.
