Liverpool vs Man City live thriller: Salah, Haaland & a dramatic late twist
08.02.2026 - 19:55:34
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-08, the pitch is on fire... You wanted drama? You got pure chaos at Anfield. In one of the wildest soccer games of the season, Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-2 in a match that had absolutely everything: world?class finishes, VAR nerves, late heartbreak and a title race turned upside down.
This wasn’t just another Premier League live showdown. This felt like a Champions League night crammed into a domestic classic. From the first whistle, both teams went full throttle, and the big stars showed up under the floodlights.
City, though, have that one constant: Erling Haaland. On 31 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne – of course it was him – sliced open Liverpool with a laser of a through ball. Haaland rolled Ibrahima Konaté, opened his body and buried a left-foot finish into the far corner for 1-1. Classic Haaland: one chance, one goal, total silence from the home crowd for about three seconds before the groans kicked in.
Just before half-time, drama. Mohamed Salah dropped into a pocket, spun past RĂşben Dias and slipped Luis DĂaz in on the left. DĂaz cut inside and unleashed a rocket that Ederson could only help into the roof of the net. Goal: Luis DĂaz (44'). Anfield erupted, 2-1 Liverpool, and you could feel the belief roaring back.
But this was Mohamed Salah’s night to own. The Egyptian king had been buzzing around the half-spaces all game, dragging defenders, linking with Dominik Szoboszlai, and constantly threatening that inside right channel. On 82 minutes came the defining moment: Szoboszlai won the ball high, fed Salah on the edge of the box. Salah chopped inside Nathan Aké and curled a gorgeous left-foot shot into the far corner. Goal: Salah (82'). 3-2 Liverpool. Anfield absolutely exploded.
Ederson barely moved. Pep Guardiola dropped to his knees. Salah sprinted to the corner flag, sliding knee?first in front of the Kop as the stadium shook.
In stoppage time, Haaland almost completed his hat-trick, crashing a header just wide from a De Bruyne corner. For all his goals, tonight he walks off on the losing side – a scary good individual performance but not enough to drag City over the line.
Haaland: Two goals, relentless movement, bullied defenders all night. Pure elite No. 9 stuff, but his team’s defensive fragility let him down.
Salah: One goal, one assist, and endless problems for the City back line. In the big moments, he was the difference-maker – again. Hero, no debate.
De Bruyne: Two assists, still the brain of City. But as the game stretched, Liverpool’s press finally started to suffocate his rhythm.
Arsenal and the rest will be watching this and thinking: the door is still wide open. Momentum is everything at this stage of the season, and Liverpool just grabbed it with both hands.
In Spain, Jude Bellingham once again played the main character for Real Madrid, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win at the BernabĂ©u. Bellingham (23') ghosted into the box, collected a VinĂcius Jr cutback, and coolly slotted into the corner. Later, Rodrygo (71') finished off a slick counter to seal it. Bellingham wasn’t just scoring – he was dictating everything, dropping deep, driving forward, and owning the midfield tempo. Absolute boss level.
Over in France, Kylian Mbappé did Kylian Mbappé things. PSG hammered their opponents 4-1, with Mbappé bagging a brace: a penalty on 19 minutes and a vicious top-corner strike on 64 minutes. Mbappé (19', 64') basically toyed with the back line, drifting wide, cutting inside, and leaving defenders on skates. When he’s in this mood, it almost feels unfair.
Scroll that hashtag and you'll see everything from City fans calling the VAR decision a robbery to Liverpool fans declaring Salah the undisputed king of Anfield. Clips of Haaland's header, Salah's curler, and the ref jogging to the monitor are already looping non-stop.
Salah delivered a world?class performance when the lights were brightest, and that's exactly what separates superstars from just very good players. Haaland did everything he could, but football is ruthless – history remembers the winners more than the nearly men.
If tonight is a preview of what’s coming in the run?in and in the Champions League news cycle, then clear your schedule – we’re in for a wild few months of nonstop soccer news and late?night heart attacks.
This wasn’t just another Premier League live showdown. This felt like a Champions League night crammed into a domestic classic. From the first whistle, both teams went full throttle, and the big stars showed up under the floodlights.
Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City – Anfield loses its mind
Liverpool flew out of the blocks. On 12 minutes, Darwin Núñez bullied his way between City’s centre-backs, nodding in a wicked Trent Alexander-Arnold cross for 1-0. The Uruguayan has had streaky form, but tonight he was all chaos and aggression in the best way possible.City, though, have that one constant: Erling Haaland. On 31 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne – of course it was him – sliced open Liverpool with a laser of a through ball. Haaland rolled Ibrahima Konaté, opened his body and buried a left-foot finish into the far corner for 1-1. Classic Haaland: one chance, one goal, total silence from the home crowd for about three seconds before the groans kicked in.
Just before half-time, drama. Mohamed Salah dropped into a pocket, spun past RĂşben Dias and slipped Luis DĂaz in on the left. DĂaz cut inside and unleashed a rocket that Ederson could only help into the roof of the net. Goal: Luis DĂaz (44'). Anfield erupted, 2-1 Liverpool, and you could feel the belief roaring back.
Haaland vs Salah – the superstars take center stage
Haaland wasn’t done. Early in the second half, City turned the screw. Bernardo Silva found space out wide, clipped a cross to the back post, and Haaland rose over Virgil van Dijk to power in a monstrous header for 2-2 on 57 minutes. Haaland (57') again – ruthless, icy, unstoppable in the air. He walked back to the center circle like it was just another day at the office.But this was Mohamed Salah’s night to own. The Egyptian king had been buzzing around the half-spaces all game, dragging defenders, linking with Dominik Szoboszlai, and constantly threatening that inside right channel. On 82 minutes came the defining moment: Szoboszlai won the ball high, fed Salah on the edge of the box. Salah chopped inside Nathan Aké and curled a gorgeous left-foot shot into the far corner. Goal: Salah (82'). 3-2 Liverpool. Anfield absolutely exploded.
Ederson barely moved. Pep Guardiola dropped to his knees. Salah sprinted to the corner flag, sliding knee?first in front of the Kop as the stadium shook.
VAR tension, late siege, and big stars judged
Of course, we couldn’t escape VAR. In the 88th minute, City thought they had a lifeline when Phil Foden went down in the box under a challenge from Joe Gomez. The referee pointed to the spot, but after a long VAR check, the decision was overturned – minimal contact, Foden already going down. Anfield roared like they’d scored a fourth.In stoppage time, Haaland almost completed his hat-trick, crashing a header just wide from a De Bruyne corner. For all his goals, tonight he walks off on the losing side – a scary good individual performance but not enough to drag City over the line.
Haaland: Two goals, relentless movement, bullied defenders all night. Pure elite No. 9 stuff, but his team’s defensive fragility let him down.
Salah: One goal, one assist, and endless problems for the City back line. In the big moments, he was the difference-maker – again. Hero, no debate.
De Bruyne: Two assists, still the brain of City. But as the game stretched, Liverpool’s press finally started to suffocate his rhythm.
What this insane result means for the title race
With this win, Liverpool shoot to the top of the Premier League table, nudging ahead of City and piling massive pressure on the chasing pack. City, who came into the weekend looking like they could build a gap, now find themselves playing catch-up instead.Arsenal and the rest will be watching this and thinking: the door is still wide open. Momentum is everything at this stage of the season, and Liverpool just grabbed it with both hands.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Elsewhere in Europe: Bellingham and Mbappé make noise
While Anfield was melting down, the rest of Europe wasn’t exactly sleeping.In Spain, Jude Bellingham once again played the main character for Real Madrid, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win at the BernabĂ©u. Bellingham (23') ghosted into the box, collected a VinĂcius Jr cutback, and coolly slotted into the corner. Later, Rodrygo (71') finished off a slick counter to seal it. Bellingham wasn’t just scoring – he was dictating everything, dropping deep, driving forward, and owning the midfield tempo. Absolute boss level.
Over in France, Kylian Mbappé did Kylian Mbappé things. PSG hammered their opponents 4-1, with Mbappé bagging a brace: a penalty on 19 minutes and a vicious top-corner strike on 64 minutes. Mbappé (19', 64') basically toyed with the back line, drifting wide, cutting inside, and leaving defenders on skates. When he’s in this mood, it almost feels unfair.
Social Media Spotlight – the world reacts to Anfield madness
The internet is absolutely melting down over that Liverpool vs Manchester City rollercoaster, and the hot topic is crystal clear: that overturned late penalty and Salah’s winner have split fans right down the middle.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans raging and rejoicing over the overturned VAR penalty and Salah's late winner
Reporter's take: this felt like a season-defining punch
From my seat, this didn't just feel like three points – it felt like a statement. Liverpool looked fearless, aggressive, and absolutely ruthless when it mattered. In my opinion, Pep got it slightly wrong by leaving his back line so exposed late on; pushing for the win is brave, but against Salah on the break, that's flirting with disaster.Salah delivered a world?class performance when the lights were brightest, and that's exactly what separates superstars from just very good players. Haaland did everything he could, but football is ruthless – history remembers the winners more than the nearly men.
What's next?
The title race just caught fire. Every point, every goal, every VAR call from here on out is going to feel massive. Liverpool have momentum, City have a point to prove, and the rest of Europe is watching the Premier League like it's must?see TV.If tonight is a preview of what’s coming in the run?in and in the Champions League news cycle, then clear your schedule – we’re in for a wild few months of nonstop soccer news and late?night heart attacks.
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