Anfield Deja vu! Haaland scores winner as City edge 10-men Liverpool in dramatic PL Classic

Sunday 8 February 2026

Premier League 2025/26

Liverpool Vs Manchester City

Anfield stadium, Anfield Rd, Anfield, Liverpool L4 0TH, UK

Erling Haaland scoerd a dramatic stoppage time winner, as Manchester City reduced the gap to 6 points in a dramatic and thrilling PL classic.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Firstly, a happy new year and I hope you have a great 2026! 

What a terrific game we have today! It's the game of the weekend, and possibly a huge one for both teams. After Arsenal's comfortable home win over Sunderland yesterday, a huge chance arises for both Manchester City and Liverpool to be in better positions. City could cut the lead at the top to 6 points, if they win today, and Liverpool could move to 2 points behind Chelsea if they win today at home. In the reverse fixture, it was Pep Guardiola's blues that won 3-0 at home, which was City's best result in November, and part of Liverpool's worst form where they lost 9 out of 12 games and were dealing with injuries. Likewise for City, it's not been a good 2026 for them, with only 3 wins (Wolves, Exeter City and Newcastle) and the rest are draws, including two defeats both away from home at Manchester United and at Norway to Bodo/Glimt in the UCL. This is a particularly big game for Arne Slot's Liverpool to continue the winning momentum after their recent home win, they could look to achieve back-to-back wins. Who will come out on top today? Can Liverpool continue their great home record against City, or will Manchester City beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since February 2021?

STARTING XI:

Arne Alot names the same team which beat Newcastle 4-1, with Ibrahima Konate having a great game, and it's a 286th PL start for Mohammed Salah, bringing him 5th into the all-time PL list surpassing Pepe Reina.

Starting XI: (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker; Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitike.

Substitutions: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Nyoni

It's 4 changes for Pep Guardiola's City from their semi-final league cup win over Newcastle, with Donnarumma, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Marc Guehi and Erling Haaland into the XI replacing Ake, Foden, Trafford, Nico Gonzalez and Reijnders, who move to the bench. This is skipper Bernardo Silva's 16th appearance against the Reds with almost half of them at this same venue.

Starting XI: (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Nico O'Reilly; Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush.

Substitutions: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Ake, Cherki, Nico Gonzalez, Foden, Alleyne

ONES TO WATCH:

1. Antoine Semenyo: He's sprung to life at Manchester City since his £65m transfer from Bournemouth. The 26-year-old has become very crucial for the XI, as his pace, clinical finishing is what makes him amazing to watch. Having already scored 2 goals for Bournemouth at Anfield at the start of the season, what does he have in store for the Blues?
2. Hugo Ekitike: This man has been in seriously good form with goals. The 22-year-old transferred to Liverpool from Frankfurt in a £69m transfer, albeit purchasing Swedish forward, Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British record £125m. The Frenchman has been impressive for the Reds, with already 15 goals to his name. Can he cause some menace to the backline today?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

AWAY WE GO AT ANFIELD, CITY KICK THE GAME OFF towards the Kop end! It's a clash of the giants, that everyone is prepared to watch. And already City in behind the defence, but Alisson is a safe guy in the Liverpool net, as he makes the first save of the contest, and that's also Man City's first attempt on target. The boos are certainly targetting Marc Guehi, as the 25-year-old chose Manchester City in this year's Winter Transfer Window, instead of going to Liverpool in the summer during the final hours of the first transfer window. It's been a lively start from the visitors, as they continued to fend off Liverpool, with the defensive duo of Guehi and Khusanov doing a good job in preventing Ekitike and Salah. As the 20th minute arrived, the whole of Anfield stands up to applaud one of their heros, the late Diogo Jota, who has unfortunately passed away in a car accident last July, a moment of respect to honour a terrific player, who has played for Liverpool for 4 years, before his death. There has been 7 shots from the Blues compared to the hosts' 2 shots, albeit, there were 3 on target from City. It's been exciting stuff so far, but no result of goal, as both sides went into half-time goalless. HALF-TIME AT ANFIELD. 0-0 It's been City's half, but no goals, despite 2 saves from Alisson to deny Haaland and Salah's attempted shot hitting the roof from Donnarumma's parry-over, it's been fun to watch. Both sides end the half with Liverpool having an xG of 0.14 compared to the visitor's 1.17 xG.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

After an intense first half, we are away in the second half, with the hosts kicking off towards the Kop. Are we going to see some chances for the hosts? And it was almost the start City wanted but Alisson did enough to stop Marmoush from scoring, as he came out of his box to help prevent the ball from going in, and Kerkez swipes it clear. Liverpool increased the intensity, as Szoboszlai's shot was straight at Donnarumma, then Ekitike curled one just wide, after Wirtz's fancy footwork found the French forward, who realistically, should've found the bottom corner. One of the best chances for Liverpool today. An end-to-end game we are witnessing, as a huge chance in the 56th minute was missed. Semenyo!! Straight at Alisson, and that's a really good kick from the Brazilian as he looks for Salah and Ekitike, beautifully worked by the duo. Ekitike to Salah, plays a beautiful pass, EKITIKE!!! OH DEAR, OH NO!! WHAT A GREAT CHANCE THAT WAS FOR LIVERPOOL TO GO IN FRONT AT THE KOP END!! But Ekitike heads it wide of Donnarumma's post, and that's a massive escape for Manchester City. After Gakpo's chance, City made a double substitution, one is a concussion sub, with young Khusanov off, as per the concussion protocol, and the returning Ruben Dias, back after a hamstring injury, and the other saw Marmoush coming off as he was on a yellow card and Rayan Cherki, subbed on, despite coming off in the home win over Newcastle with a knock. Are those changes going to prove pivotal? Well, in the 65th minute, some brilliant defending nullified Wirtz. Gravenberch, finds a beautiful pass for Gakpo, keeps running, Wirtz and Ekitike are the options. Good backheel from the Frenchman, WIRTZ!!! BRILLIANT DEFENDING BY MARC GUEHI!! PUTS HIS BODY IN FRONT OF DONNARUMMA, AND OUT IT GOES FOR A CORNER!! Another significant moment, as Guehi fouls Salah at the edge of the box and is booked for the shirt tug, but the Egyptian couldn't make full use of the set piece and hits it over into the Kop. And a huge moment on the 73rd minute. Lovely fluid football from Liverpool, as they continued to test City's defence, Donnarumma punches Salah's cross, and it's another free kick for Liverpool, in the same range in which they scored against Arsenal in August 2025. It's Bernardo Silva's foul on Gravenberch, just when things were looking good for the hosts. Now, it's Szobozslai who is standing, and looks set to take this free kick. SZOBOZSLAI, AND HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!! ABSOLUTE SCENES HERE AT ANFIELD! DOMINIK SZOBOZSLAI DOES IT ONCE AGAIN! HIS 4TH DIRECT FREE KICK GOAL, AND WHAT A TIME TO SCORE, WITH ONLY 17 MINUTES OF PLAY TO GO!! KEEP REPLAYING THAT, LIVERPOOL FANS, BECAUSE IT IS A TREAT TO WATCH! NO RESPONSE TO THAT SHOT FROM DONNARUMMA, WITH THE Italian
hoping that it was going to go out for a goal kick, but NOPE! HE DOES IT AGAIN! LIVERPOOL 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 0! IS THIS THE GOAL THAT KEEPS ARSENAL FANS HAPPY, BECAUSE THE NEWS HAS SPREAD TO NORTH LONDON, AND THEY ARE BOUNCING WITH JOY. Can City get something from this, or will Liverpool hold on?

Szoboszlai's wonderful free kick puts Liverpool 1-0 up.

10 minutes later, an equaliser from City. This is now or never for City, as Dias on the ball now, Rodri, onto Guehi, who was lucky to not be sent off, looks for Haaland, cross is headed away by Van Dijk, chested down by Nunes, Gakpo tracks him, finds Rodri, who passes it to Rayan Cherki, deflected cross, NODDED BY HAALAND AND FINISHED OFF BY BERNARDO SILVA!! JUST WHEN THINGS ARE GETTING AWAY, THE VISITORS DRAW LEVEL WITH 6 MINUTES OF THE 90 TO PLAY! AND THE CITY SKIPPER WAS CLEARLY ONSIDE, AND STICKS OUT A BOOT TO FINISH IT! THEY GOT THE GOAL THEY NEEDED, CAN THEY WIN THE GAME? LIVERPOOL 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 1!!

Bernardo Silva's finish drew City level at 1-1 with 6 minutes to go.

This is turning out to be a classic! The fourth official confirms that 7 additional minutes are added on! And more drama into the 2nd minute of stoppage time. It's anyone's game at this point. Matheus Nunes, onto Bernardo Silva, beautiful ball over to Nunes, and GETS FOULED BY ALISSON, AND IT IS A PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY!! IN JUST THE 2ND MINUTE OF ADDED TIME, A SPOT KICK IS AWARDED TO CITY!! NO INTENTION OF PLAYING THE BALL, AND IT IS ALSO A YELLOW CARD FOR ALISSON FOR THE FOUL ON NUNES, AND IT WAS THE PORTUGUESE FULL-BACK WHO GOT THE CRUCIAL TOUCH, AND THE 32-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN WAS ALREADY COMMITTED INTO THE FOUL, NO REFEREE IN THE WORLD WOULD OVERTURN THIS DECISION!!! AND CITY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHANCE TO WIN THE GAME WITH 5 MORE MINUTES TO PLAY!! NUNES IS STILL DOWN, and requires treatment, but I think he should be okay. UP STEPS HAALAND, WHO IS YET TO SCORE AT THIS VENUE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE throughout his 4 years at City. Now remember, when those two sides met in November, Haaland missed his spot kick, which was saved by Mamardashvili. Now it's Alisson who faces him. What will it be this time? AND HAALAND CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT!!! ABSOLUTE SCENES HERE AT ANFIELD!!! MANCHESTER CITY TAKE THE LEAD WITH 5 TO PLAY, AND THIS IS SIMPLY SENSATIONAL FROM GUARDIOLA'S MEN! AND CITY ARE ON COURSE FOR A FIRST LEAGUE DOUBLE OVER LIVERPOOL, AND IT IS ON COURSE TO HAPPEN!! WELL-TAKEN PENALTY AND LOOK AT THE CELEBRATIONS FROM THE MEN IN BLUE!! LIVERPOOL 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 2!!

Haaland celebrates wildly after his penalty was converted.

There's still time for more drama!! As Ait-Nouri's shot is saved by Alisson and Liverpool counter, looking for a response, Silva is booked for fouling Wirtz, IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT ANFIELD!! A moment of masterclass proved City's worth of 3 points. Liverpool still have players up top, Van Dijk, heads to MACALLISTER, AND OH MY GOODNESS ME!! WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE SAVE BY GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA TO KEEP IT AT 2-1!! IT WAS HIT WELL BY THE ARGENTINE MIDFIELDER, BUT THE 6'5 KEEPER WAS EQUAL TO IT! WHAT A WORLD CLASS SAVE THAT IS FROM THE ITALIAN! AND NO WONDER HE IS ONE OF THE BEST GOALKEEPERS IN THE WORLD!! SIMPLY SENSATIONAL GOALKEEPING!!

What an unbelievable save by Donnarumma to keep it 2-1 and deny MacAllister!

SZOBOZSLAI'S CORNER, punched away by Donnarumma, and the chaos continues!!! Appeals for a Liverpool penalty are not enough, as VAR has checked and cleared it, as Alisson is still out of his goal, trying to salvage a point, Guehi heads it down, Silva kicks it in the air, towards Cherki AND HE ROLLS THE BALL FROM HIS OWN HALF, HAALAND CHASES IT, BUT SZOBOZSLAI TUGS HIM AND HAALAND REPEATS, BUT IT'S GONE IN!!! CHERKI IS CELEBRATING, BUT THERE IS A VAR CHECK FOR A POTENTIAL FOUL FROM HAALAND AND THE HUNGARIAN. CRAIG PAWSON, THE REFEREE HAS JUST BEEN ADVISED TO HEAD OVER TO THE PITCHSIDE MONITOR AND REVIEW THE DECISION. AND REFEREE'S VERDICT IS: "After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland on Szobozslai, but prior to that, Szobozslai commits a holding offence that denies a goalscoring opportunity and the final decision is a "DIRECT FREE KICK TO MANCHESTER CITY", and a RED CARD". HUGE TWIST TO THE TALE, AS IT'S A RED CARD TO SZOBOZSLAI and a free kick, to be TAKEN BY CHERKI AND OVER INTO THE CROWD AT ANFIELD ROAD END. ALISSON KICKS TO THE MIDDLE, AND THERE IT IS!! THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE HAS SOUNDED! MANCHESTER CITY WIN AT ANFIELD AFTER 5 YEARS, AND AFTER 23 YEARS WITH FANS PRESENT!! THE TITLE CHARGE IS STILL ALIVE FOR GUARDIOLA'S MEN! IT FINISHES FULL-TIME AT ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 2!! And it's a massive win for City, who win at Anfield with fans after 23 years and they've waited for this moment! Liverpool thought they had won the game with Szobozslai's free kick with 16 minutes to play, but Haaland and Bernardo Silva both scored in the space of 8 minutes to turn the game on its head, despite Szobozslai's red card for his foul on Haaland as well as the goal getting disallowed for Rayan Cherki. Nevertheless, City close the gap to Arsenal by 6 points and sealing a first league double over Liverpool after 89 years!

MAN OF THE MATCH: Bernardo Silva

He's had a superb game, despite getting a yellow card for fouling Wirtz, it still didn't matter tho, as he was absolutely relentless, keeps going and got the crucial equaliser for City from Haaland's header.