Manchester City snatched a thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, with Erling Haaland's late penalty sealing the points in a dramatic finish.
Manchester City delivered a dramatic blow to Liverpool's aspirations, securing a 2-1 Premier League victory at Anfield on February 8, 2026. Erling Haaland’s injury-time penalty was the decider, following a match filled with intensity and late twists.
Entering the fixture, Liverpool sat sixth in the league, hoping to climb the table. Second-placed Manchester City aimed to close the gap on the leaders. Both teams arrived with mixed recent form, making this encounter critical for their respective seasons.
The first half at Anfield was a tense affair, characterized by tactical battles and midfield skirmishes. Neither side could break the deadlock despite moments of attacking promise. Omar Marmoush received a yellow card for Manchester City in the 42nd minute.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was booked just after the restart in the 47th minute, indicating the growing friction. Despite the physical nature of the game, clear-cut chances remained at a premium. Defenses largely held firm, preventing any early breakthroughs.
As the whistle blew for half-time, the deadlock reflected the evenly matched contest. Both managers faced the task of finding a breakthrough against resilient defenses. A single goal seemed likely to swing the momentum significantly in the second period.
The second half burst into life, with Liverpool eventually breaking the stalemate. Dominik Szoboszlai fired home in the 74th minute, sending the Anfield crowd into raptures. The Hungarian midfielder's goal gave the Reds a crucial lead.
Manchester City responded with urgency. Bernardo Silva restored parity for the visitors in the 84th minute, calmly guiding home a crucial equalizer. His goal followed an assist from Erling Haaland, setting up a tense finale.
The drama intensified deep into injury time. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was booked in the 90+2 minute, leading to a penalty. Haaland stepped up and coolly slotted away the spot-kick in the 90+3 minute, silencing the home support and putting City ahead.
The match concluded with further controversy as Szoboszlai received a straight red card for Liverpool in the 90+13 minute. His dismissal capped a chaotic end to a pulsating encounter. Manchester City defended their narrow lead through the extensive added time.
Manchester City edged possession with 53% to Liverpool's 47%. The visitors generated a higher expected goals (xG) tally of 2.73 compared to Liverpool's 1.21, reflecting their offensive threat. Both teams registered 15 total shots, but City had 7 on target to Liverpool's 4.
