Manchester City staged a late comeback to defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, with Erling Haaland's stoppage-time penalty proving decisive. The victory narrowed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to six points. Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick had given Liverpool the lead, but Bernardo Silva equalized before controversy ensued with a red card and disallowed goal.
The Premier League clash at Anfield on February 8, 2026, delivered high drama as Manchester City overturned a deficit to beat Liverpool 2-1. Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, started strongly but struggled to convert chances in the first half. City dominated possession with 61%, creating opportunities through Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, though Alisson Becker made key saves, including denying Haaland early on. Liverpool improved after halftime, pressing intensely and generating threats from Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike, who missed a close-range header in the 55th minute. The breakthrough came in the 74th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai curled a swerving 30-yard free-kick into the top corner off the post, giving Liverpool a 1-0 lead and electrifying the Anfield crowd. City responded resiliently. In the 84th minute, Haaland headed down a Rayan Cherki cross for Bernardo Silva to poke home the equalizer through Alisson's legs. Deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, Alisson fouled Matheus Nunes in the box, earning a penalty. Haaland converted coolly with a left-footed shot into the corner for his 21st league goal of the season. Liverpool pushed for an equalizer, but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a volley from Alexis Mac Allister. Chaos peaked when Alisson joined the attack for a corner, allowing Cherki to lob into an empty net from midfield. VAR ruled it out after Szoboszlai tugged Haaland back, denying a goal-scoring opportunity, resulting in a red card for the Liverpool midfielder despite initial advantage play. Pep Guardiola praised the win as a 'brilliant advert for the Premier League,' noting City's second-half fatigue but spirited comeback led by captain Bernardo Silva. Haaland sympathized with Szoboszlai, saying, 'Come on referee, give goal and go home! I feel bad for him. Just let it be a goal.' Slot expressed frustration, highlighting Liverpool's improved pressing but lamenting the result: 'So many times this season we haven’t got what I think we deserved.' The victory marks City's first league win at Anfield since 2021 and completes a double over Liverpool, their first since 1936-37. City now trail Arsenal by six points with a game in hand, while Liverpool sit sixth, four points off fifth-placed Chelsea, facing a tough battle for Champions League spots amid injuries at right-back.
