Liverpool stun City in frantic Premier League classic – live drama at Anfield

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-04, the pitch is on fire... You wanted chaos? You got pure Premier League madness. Anfield under the lights, Liverpool vs Manchester City, the kind of soccer games that make you forget to breathe. Mohamed Salah vs Erling Haaland, Klopp vs Guardiola, the whole title race hanging on every touch. And wow, did it deliver.

Liverpool 3–2 Manchester City: Salah vs Haaland, and a late, ruthless twist

This one had everything. Five goals, a VAR storm, superstar drama – the full box office package.

City drew first blood. In the 18th minute, Kevin De Bruyne slipped a filthy through ball between the lines, and Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. One touch to steady, second touch a left-foot rocket across the keeper into the far corner. 0–1, City. Haaland sprinted to the corner flag, arms wide, Anfield stunned for a second.

Liverpool woke up fast. On 31 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged a diagonal to Luis Díaz, who diced Kyle Walker on the left and cut it back low. Mohamed Salah took it first time, curling it inside the near post. Clinical. 1–1 and Salah screaming at the Kop to lift the noise another level.

Then came the first slice of drama. Just before half-time, Phil Foden slid in Jeremy Doku, whose cross struck Virgil van Dijk and bounced onto his arm. City screamed for a penalty, referee waved play on. VAR had a long check – we’re talking almost three minutes – before finally deciding no penalty. X is melting down already over that one.

The second half was chaos. On 55 minutes, Liverpool flipped the script from a corner. Alexander-Arnold whipped it in, City half-cleared, and the ball dropped to Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge. One touch, then a vicious low drive through a crowded box into the bottom corner. 2–1 Liverpool, Anfield absolutely booming.

But you never bury City that early. On 69 minutes, De Bruyne went wide right, clipped in a devilish cross and Julián Álvarez ghosted between the centre-backs, glancing a header past the keeper. 2–2, Guardiola punching the air, and the away end erupting.

The winner though… that’s the stuff title races are built on. Minute 88. City pushing high, Rodri loses a duel in midfield, and Liverpool break. Szoboszlai feeds Salah, Salah waits, waits, then slips it down the left channel to substitute Diogo Jota. Jota cuts inside Ruben Dias and smashes a right-foot drive into the top corner. 3–2. Absolute bedlam. Shirts off in the stands, Klopp sprinting down the touchline like it’s his last dance.

Heroes and flops under the Anfield lights

Mohamed Salah was everywhere – a goal, an assist, nonstop pressing. This was prime Salah: big-game swagger, sharp touches, and the nerve to keep making the right decision late in the match. In these soccer games, he just feels inevitable.

Erling Haaland got his goal – of course he did – but after the opener, Liverpool’s defenders smothered him better. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté tightened the line, cut out crosses, and forced Haaland deeper. Dangerous, yes, but not decisive when it mattered most.

Kevin De Bruyne quietly pulled a masterclass in creativity. One assist, could’ve had two more if City’s finishing was sharper. His vision is still ridiculous, but he started to fade after 75 minutes, and City lost some control as Liverpool’s midfield legs took over.

On the flip side, Rúben Dias had a night to forget. Beaten too easily by Jota for the winner, a step slow on a couple of transitions, and visibly raging at his back line. This kind of high-speed, end-to-end clash can turn even an elite defender human.

Title race shake-up: Liverpool leap, City wobble

This result is a massive swing. Liverpool’s win drags them right into the heart of the title conversation while City suddenly look vulnerable in these high-pressure soccer games. Points dropped in a direct head-to-head always hurt twice.

With three points banked, Liverpool jump up the table, tightening the gap at the top and piling pressure on the rest of the chasing pack. City, meanwhile, are staring at a brutal run of fixtures with fans already asking whether the squad rotation has been pushed too hard.

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

Elsewhere in Europe: Champions League contenders flex

While Anfield stole the spotlight, Champions League news and storylines were quietly stacking up across the continent.

In Spain, Real Madrid cruised thanks to another ice-cold performance from Jude Bellingham. He bagged a brace – first with a late-arriving header from a Vinícius Júnior cross, then a composed low finish after dancing through two defenders. You can feel it already: this guy lives for big European nights.

In France, Kylian Mbappé once again reminded everyone why defenders have nightmares about him. He scored from the penalty spot and then torched a backline on the counter, cutting in from the left before lashing one into the near top corner. Classic Mbappé: one step, acceleration, boom.

All of this feeds straight into Champions League news and speculation – who’s peaking at the right time, who’s burning out, and whose domestic form is going to roll over into Europe.

Football league table context: every point is gold

Across the football league table in the top divisions, tonight’s swings are huge. Liverpool’s late winner not only smashes City’s momentum but also piles psychological pressure on everyone around them. Arsenal, Spurs, and the rest of the pack are suddenly staring at a table that looks a lot more crowded at the summit.

City’s defeat doesn’t kill their hopes – far from it – but it adds a layer of doubt. That iron grip they usually have on the run-in? Not so tight right now. One more slip and the whole thing could flip.

My take: Klopp’s chaos beats Guardiola’s control

In my opinion, this was one of those nights where Klopp’s pure emotional football beat Guardiola’s calculated control. Liverpool didn’t play safe; they went toe-to-toe with the champions and trusted their front line to land the last punch. It worked.

City looked… human. Haaland scored but didn’t dominate. The midfield lost duels late on, and defensively they panicked under pressure. If they keep dropping points in these direct clashes, the title race could flip from "City’s to lose" to "anyone’s game" fast.

For me, Salah’s performance was absolutely world-class. When the game turned frantic, he stayed ice cold. His decision-making for that Jota winner – the timing of the pass, the weight of it – that’s elite. That’s what separates great players from all-timers in these massive soccer games.

Final whistle: chaos, controversy, and a table you need to see

So here we are: Liverpool back in the hunt, City wobbling, and the rest of the league suddenly smelling opportunity. VAR rows, screamer goals, superstar storylines – the full package for a wild football night.

If you’re trying to make sense of what this does to the bigger picture – title race, European spots, top scorers today and who’s really in form – you’ve got to look at the live football league table and the numbers behind the noise.

Check full stats & standings now

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