Liverpool stun City in late drama as Haaland fires but Salah has last word â Live chaos
Published on 02/07/2026 at 15:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂŒller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSLiverpool 3â2 Manchester City â Title race earthquake
This one had everything: superstar goals, a controversial VAR call, a late winner, and a crowd that simply refused to sit down. Manchester City struck first when Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy through ball into Erling Haaland, who shrugged off his marker and drilled low into the bottom corner. One chance, one goal â vintage Haaland.
But Liverpool did what Liverpool do at Anfield. Just before the break, Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up with a whipped cross that caused chaos, and Darwin NĂșñez reacted fastest, smashing home the rebound to level it at 1â1. The stadium flipped from nervous to electric in a heartbeat.
Second half, the chaos level went from 8 to 12. City retook the lead when Phil Foden cut inside and curled one that Alisson could only parry into danger, leaving Bernardo Silva to tap in from close range. But Liverpool wouldnât die. Dominik Szoboszlai drove through midfield, released Luis DĂaz down the left, and his low cut-back found Mohamed Salah, who coolly slotted into the far corner for 2â2.
Then came the Hot Topic: a massive VAR flashpoint. City thought they had a penalty when Haaland went down in the box under pressure from Virgil van Dijk. The referee initially pointed to the spot, but after a long VAR check, the decision was overturned for an earlier offside in the build-up. X is absolutely melting down over that call.
And right when it felt like a draw, Liverpool broke City hearts. In the 88th minute, Alexander-Arnold clipped a smart ball into the channel, NĂșñez bullied his way past RĂșben Dias and squared for substitute Diogo Jota to bundle home the 3â2 winner. Pure bedlam. Klopp sprinted down the touchline, Guardiola froze in disbelief.
Star watch: Heroes and flops
- Mohamed Salah â Big players, big moments. One ice-cold finish, constant menace on the counter, and the emotional leader when Liverpool were wobbling.
- Erling Haaland â Scored a classic Haaland goal and bullied the centre-backs, but faded late and will be fuming about the VAR reversal that denied him a penalty.
- Kevin De Bruyne â Ran the first half with his passing range, but Liverpoolâs press suffocated him late on. Still, that assist for Haaland was outrageous.
- Virgil van Dijk â Had rough moments wrestling with Haaland, but held firm when it mattered. Heâll be relieved VAR bailed him out on that penalty shout.
Elsewhere in the Premier League â Goals everywhere
It wasnât just Anfield where things went wild in the Premier League live action. Around the grounds, the football results today delivered big twists in the top-four chase and the relegation scrap.
Arsenal 2â0 Newcastle United
At the Emirates, Arsenal quietly handled business. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a slick left-footed finish after a one-two with Martin Ădegaard. In the second half, January signing Gabriel Jesus added the cushion, rising highest to bury a header from a corner. Saka looked sharp all night, twisting Dan Burn inside out, while Ădegaard pulled strings like a metronome. For Newcastle, Alexander Isak was isolated and starved of service.
Tottenham Hotspur 1â1 Chelsea
London derby, big noise, shared points. Spurs struck first when Son Heung-min buried a low drive after a slick combination with James Maddison. Chelsea hit back through Cole Palmer, who converted from the spot after a clumsy foul on Christopher Nkunku. Son was relentless on the break, Palmer was Chelseaâs brain and heartbeat, and both keepers, Vicario and Petrovic, pulled off huge saves late on.
Top scorers today â Who lit it up?
If youâre hunting for the top scorers today, look no further:
- Darwin NĂșñez (Liverpool) â 1 goal, 1 assist, and total chaos for Cityâs back line.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) â Crucial equaliser, elite movement, clutch mentality.
- Erling Haaland (Man City) â One ruthless finish, always on the edge of exploding again.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) â Opened the scoring, constant threat cutting inside.
- Diogo Jota (Liverpool) â Super-sub with the match-winning goal.
Title race and table shockwaves
So what does all this mean for the football league table? Liverpoolâs win drags them right into the thick of the title battle, putting massive pressure on Manchester Cityâs next fixtures. Arsenalâs steady 2â0 keeps them firmly in the chase, while Spursâ draw with Chelsea feels like two points dropped for Ange Postecoglouâs side.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Champions League news â Momentum swings
With the Champions League knockout rounds looming, tonightâs performances send a clear message to Europe. Liverpool look terrifying going forward, with Salah, NĂșñez and DĂaz ripping transitions apart. City, despite Haalandâs goal, suddenly look a touch vulnerable under heavy pressing. Arsenalâs clean sheet and control will have their future opponents on high alert.
The Champions League news angle here is simple: English sides are going to be a nightmare draw, but Cityâs aura of invincibility took a hit, and Liverpoolâs confidence just shot through the roof.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging and debating that overturned VAR penalty on Haaland
Opinion corner â Young reporter take
Honestly, this felt like a passing of the torch night. City looked like the machine we know for stretches, but when the game got wild and emotional, Liverpool simply lived in that chaos better. In my opinion, Guardiola overthought his in-game changes, and taking a bit of control away from De Bruyne late on hurt Cityâs rhythm.
On the flip side, Klopp backing NĂșñez was huge. There were moments of classic Darwin chaos, but he delivered a goal and the decisive assist. Thatâs exactly why you donât bench a forward with that much raw power. If this is the version of Liverpool that shows up in the run-in, the title race is absolutely not a two-horse race anymore.
Closing whistle â Itâs far from over
So, bookmark this day. 2026-02-07 might be the night we look back on and say: thatâs when the Premier League title race flipped. Liverpoolâs 3â2 win over City, Arsenalâs controlled 2â0, Spurs and Chelsea trading blows â everything is tightening, and every single point now feels like gold dust.
Stay locked in on the numbers: the table is moving, the pressure is rising, and the story of this season is nowhere near finished.
Check full stats & standings now
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