Haaland hat-trick chaos as Man City edge Liverpool in Premier League live thriller

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-06, the pitch is on fire... You wanted wild soccer games? You just got an instant classic. At the Etihad, Manchester City and Liverpool produced a 5-4 Premier League live rollercoaster that felt more like a video game than real life. Erling Haaland dropped a hat-trick, Mohamed Salah answered with pure ice-cold finishing, and in the end a late VAR decision had everyone losing their minds.

The opening half was pure chaos. City flew out like a team possessed. In the 7th minute, Kevin De Bruyne floated one of those trademark whipped crosses into the box, and Erling Haaland bullied his marker to power a header into the bottom corner. 1-0, and you just knew we were on for a long night for defenders.

Liverpool didn’t fold. In the 18th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold broke the press with a diagonal ball into Darwin Núñez, who squared unselfishly across goal. Mohamed Salah, calm as you like, slid it under Ederson for 1-1. That’s Salah in a nutshell: one chance, one goal, one dagger.

Haaland vs Salah – superstar duel in 4K

City kept pushing the tempo. In the 29th minute, Phil Foden cut inside, dragged two defenders with him, and slipped Haaland through. One touch to set, second to blast it low into the far corner: 2-1 City, Haaland brace. He turned to the crowd with that familiar snarl – you could feel the belief exploding inside the Etihad.

But Liverpool just don’t go away. Right before the break, in the 44th minute, Salah struck again. Luis Díaz danced past Kyle Walker on the wing, fired a low cross that ricocheted around the box, and Salah pounced, spinning and smashing it into the roof of the net. 2-2 at half-time. This wasn’t just a match; it was a full-blown heavyweight fistfight.

Second-half insanity: nine goals, one huge controversy

After the restart, City came out furious. In the 53rd minute, De Bruyne picked up the ball between the lines, slipped Foden wide, and Foden buried a left-footed curler into the far post. 3-2 City. Alisson barely moved. World-class finish in a world-class game.

Liverpool answered again. In the 61st minute, Núñez finally got his goal. Alexis Mac Allister clipped a ball over the top, Núñez muscled past Rúben Dias and smashed across Ederson into the far corner. 3-3. At this point, defending was basically optional; both sides were just trading haymakers.

Then came Haaland’s moment for the hat-trick. Minute 69: De Bruyne again the architect, sliding a pass into Haaland’s feet at the edge of the area. He rolled Virgil van Dijk with a brutal spin and fired a rising shot into the top left. 4-3 City, Haaland hat-trick. The stadium erupted. That’s why he’s the most feared number 9 on the planet.

Still not done. In the 79th minute, Liverpool found another twist. A corner swung in by Andy Robertson wasn’t cleared properly; the ball dropped to Ibrahima Konaté, who poked it towards goal. Ederson parried, but substitute Diogo Jota reacted first and tapped in from close range. 4-4. You could barely catch your breath.

The VAR moment everyone’s fighting about

The entire internet, though, is talking about the 88th-minute drama. City launched one last wave. Foden drove into the box, tangled with Robertson, and the ball broke loose to Julián Álvarez. Álvarez drilled it into the net for what looked like 5-4… but the flag went up. Initially offside. The Etihad froze. Then VAR stepped in.

The replay showed Robertson had got a touch that might have reset the phase. After a long review, VAR overturned the on-field call: goal stands. Officially credited to Julián Álvarez, assisted by Foden. 5-4 City. Jürgen Klopp was raging on the touchline, Liverpool players surrounded the referee, and the noise online went nuclear. That’s your hot topic: VAR giving City the late winner in a nine-goal thriller.

Heroes, flops, and title-race shockwaves

Let’s be real: Erling Haaland was an absolute monster. Three goals, relentless movement, and he bullied one of the best defenders in the world in Van Dijk. De Bruyne? Pure maestro, pulling strings, grabbing multiple assists and dictating the rhythm. Phil Foden added a filthy finish and constant threat between the lines.

On the other side, Mohamed Salah did everything you could ask for – two clinical goals, constant danger drifting inside, dragging defenders all over the place. Núñez had one of those classic chaotic Núñez nights: a big goal, big runs, but still moments where his touch let him down. Van Dijk and Konaté were left exposed again and again; this wasn’t their finest defensive day, even if Konaté tried to make up for it with that assist-scramble for Jota’s equaliser.

For City, some questions linger about the back line. Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji struggled with Liverpool’s direct running and transitions. But when you’ve got Haaland, De Bruyne, and Foden combining like that, you can almost afford a bit of defensive chaos.

For Liverpool, this one hurts. Four goals at the Etihad and still no points. Salah and Jota can’t do much more going forward; the real issue is structure and defensive spacing when City break the press. If Klopp can’t tighten that up fast, the title might start drifting away.

What does this mean for the title race? With this win, City leapfrog Liverpool in the football league table and crank up the pressure on everyone chasing. Arsenal, Spurs, and the rest just watched the bar get raised again. City now sit top by a narrow margin, and every dropped point from here is going to feel like a mini-crisis for the chasers.

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

Social Media Spotlight: the web melts down

My take: this felt like a Champions League knockout tie

In my opinion, this wasn’t just another Premier League clash – it felt like a Champions League semi-final played in February. City showed exactly why they’re still the team to beat: insane firepower, mental toughness, and stars who deliver when it matters. Haaland was pure chaos in the best possible way; every touch felt like a threat.

For Liverpool, there’s pride in the performance but zero comfort in the result. Scoring four away to City and leaving empty-handed is brutal. Klopp might have to rethink the balance in midfield – too open, too stretched, and against City that’s basically football suicide. If they want to stay in the title fight and make serious Champions League news later this season, the defensive structure has to level up fast.

But as a neutral or just a football addict? You couldn’t ask for more. Nine goals, superstar shootout, a hat-trick, a last-minute winner, and full-blown VAR chaos. These are the soccer games you remember for years.

One last whistle

The title race just went up a notch in temperature. City are surging, Liverpool are wounded but dangerous, and everyone else in the league is watching this and thinking: how do we live with that level?

Check full stats & standings now

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