Liverpool vs Man United chaos: Anfield thriller shakes title race live

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-11, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today? You got absolute chaos. Anfield just served up a classic as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-2 in a breathless Premier League live showdown that could flip the whole title race on its head. Mohamed Salah, of course, turned up when it mattered, but it’s the VAR drama and a late winner that everyone’s screaming about right now.

Liverpool 3-2 Manchester United – Salah drags Liverpool over the line

This one had everything: screamers, defensive meltdowns, and a stoppage-time punch in the gut for United. Liverpool came flying out of the blocks, and it took just 14 minutes for Anfield to explode.

The opener came from a slick move down the right: Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a vicious low cross, Darwin Núñez peeled off his marker, and smashed a first-time finish past the keeper. Goal: Darwin Núñez (14') – pure striker’s instinct, pure Anfield noise.

But United punched back. Bruno Fernandes, who’d been quiet early on, suddenly flicked the switch. In the 32nd minute, he slipped a gorgeous reverse pass into the channel, and Marcus Rashford (32') drilled a left-footed rocket inside the far post. Level, against the run of play – and you could feel the tension rise.

Then came the first big flashpoint. Just before half-time, Liverpool thought they had a penalty when Salah went down under a challenge from Lisandro Martínez. The referee pointed to the spot, Anfield went wild… and VAR dragged it back. After a long check, the decision was overturned – minimal contact, said the officials. The home crowd absolutely lost it, and that set the tone for the second half.

Salah time (again)

Second half, same story: Liverpool pressing, United sitting deep, waiting to counter. On 57 minutes, Salah decided he was done waiting. Picking up the ball just outside the box, he drove inside on that lethal left foot and unleashed a curler into the top corner. Goal: Mohamed Salah (57'). You knew where he was going, the keeper knew where he was going – nobody could stop it.

United, though, refused to die. A quick break on 71 minutes saw Alejandro Garnacho flying down the left, cutting the ball back to Fernandes on the edge. His shot was blocked, but it fell kindly to Rasmus Højlund (72'), who reacted fastest and stabbed it in from close range. 2-2, and suddenly Liverpool’s title charge looked wobbly.

The stoppage-time dagger & VAR meltdown

Then came the moment that’s breaking the internet. Deep into added time, Liverpool threw everyone forward on a corner. The first ball was cleared, but only as far as Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge. He clipped a teasing cross to the back post, where Virgil van Dijk rose above everyone and headed back across goal. United failed to clear, chaos in the six-yard box… and who else but Mohamed Salah (90+4') reacted, poking it over the line.

United players went ballistic, claiming Núñez had fouled André Onana in the scramble. VAR checked for a foul and possible offside, lines drawn, replays from every angle – and the goal stood. Anfield erupted, United’s bench went berserk, and social media instantly split into two camps: “stonewall goal” vs “daylight robbery”.

Heroes & flops: the star report card

• Mohamed Salah – Hero. Two goals, constant threat, dragged Liverpool through when it started to slip. His second was classic poacher’s instinct. When people talk about top scorers today, his name is right at the front of the conversation again.
• Darwin Núñez – Chaos weapon. Scored the opener, pressed like a madman, but still snatched at a couple of big chances. Could’ve had a brace.
• Bruno Fernandes – Nearly the architect. One assist, several dangerous passes, but faded late on as Liverpool’s midfield cranked up the pressure.
• Marcus Rashford – Hot and cold. Brilliant finish for his goal, but drifted out of the game for long spells. United needed more from him as an outlet.
• Virgil van Dijk – Captain’s chaos and calm. Some vital interventions at the back and a massive aerial win on the winner. Still, will be annoyed with the soft second goal conceded.

What this does to the Premier League table

With this win, Liverpool surge back to the top end of the football league table picture, nudging ahead of their title rivals – at least for tonight. United, meanwhile, are stuck in that brutal battle for European spots, where every dropped point feels like a disaster.

If you’re tracking the title race, top scorers today, and who’s chasing who, you need the live numbers in front of you. This victory doesn’t just hand Liverpool three points; it piles massive pressure on the rest of the pack, especially those kicking off later in the evening.

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

Champions League & European shake-up

Beyond Anfield, today’s football results are already shaping the Champions League news narrative. With Liverpool pushing hard in the league, every result like this ramps up talk about their chances of not just qualifying, but going deep in Europe. United’s stumble, on the other hand, makes that top-four (or top-five) chase even nastier.

Other top leagues across Europe also delivered drama today – tight wins, late goals, and big-name stars either stepping up or disappearing. But no match had the raw, wild energy of Liverpool vs United. This is the one people will be replaying on loop tonight.

My take: this felt like a statement win

Let’s be real: this wasn’t a perfect Liverpool performance. They switched off at key moments, conceded two soft-ish goals, and relied heavily on Salah’s brilliance. But in a title race, it’s not about perfection – it’s about finding a way. And today, they absolutely found one.

From my seat, United’s game plan almost worked. They soaked up pressure, hit on the break, and nearly walked out with a brutal smash-and-grab point. But you can’t invite that much pressure at Anfield for 90+ minutes and expect not to get burned. In my opinion, they sat too deep for too long, and once the subs came on, they completely lost control of midfield.

As for the manager situations: Liverpool’s boss will be buzzing, pointing to character, mentality, and that never-say-die attitude. United’s manager? He’s going to get grilled. The questions about game management, substitutions, and mentality in big away games are not going away after this.

And Salah? Absolute world-class performance. Again. You can talk tactics all day, but sometimes it’s just about having that one superstar who decides he’s not leaving without the win.

What's next?

The ripple effect from this one will hit every stadium in the league this weekend. Rivals now know they’re chasing a Liverpool side that can win ugly and win late. United know they’re running out of freebies in the race for Europe. Every kick from now on feels bigger.

If you’re following football results today and trying to piece together who’s really in control of this title race, you have to keep one eye on the live table and the other on form, injuries, and these wild, momentum-swinging nights.

Check full stats & standings now

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@ ad-hoc-news.de

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