Erling Haaland assisted Bernardo Silva and converted a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City came back to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool led through Dominik Szoboszlai’s outstanding free kick in the 74th minute but Man City answered 10 minutes later when Silva poked in Haaland’s knocked-down header of a Rayan Cherki cross.
MORE — Guardiola, Haaland, Silva speak | Arne Slot reaction
City then went ahead off a controversial penalty call when Matheus Nunes poked the ball past Alisson Becker. It was headed out of play when Alisson clattered into Nunes for a clear foul in the box. Haaland rolled the penalty home.
Alexis Mac Allister nearly made it 2-2 but was denied by an outstanding Gianluigi Donnarumma save. It looked like it was 3-1 in stoppage time but Rayan Cherki’s goal was taken off the board because Haaland fouled Dominik Szoboszlai. But that foul came after Szoboszlai fouled Haaland’s race toward an empty goal. So VAR gave Szoboszlai a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity and the Hungarian is set for a three-match ban.
MORE — Liverpool v Man City player ratings
The Man City win adds some drama to the Premier League title race, which looked set to further tilt toward Arsenal when Szoboszlai scored an amazing free kick in the 74th minute. But City was the team to find magic at Anfield this time around.
WATCH — Liverpool v Manchester City full match replay
City stay within six points of Arsenal and move three clear of third-place Aston Villa. Liverpool remain on 39 points, five behind fourth-place Manchester United and four back of Chelsea.
Nine minutes that changed the Premier League’s title race, top-five picture
Dominik Szoboszlai had broken Arsenal hearts with a scintillating free kick, and then he gave them the opposite feeling by pulling off a repeat performance of sorts in the 74th minute at Anfield against the Gunners’ top title threat. Just like that, Arsenal were set for a nine-point table lead with 13 matches to play, because it sure didn’t seem like City would be solving Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Alisson Becker. Conversely, Liverpool was set to move a point back of Chelsea and two back of Manchester United by taking three points from an opponent that normally claims them all. With a super weak run of opponents next on their PL docket, Liverpool could ride these surprise points to easier Champions League positioning before their rough final stretch of the season.
Less than 10 minutes later, change did Man City a whole lot of good and left Liverpool two positive results behind fourth and fifth place and without perhaps their season’s top performer — Szoboszlai — for three matches. Now City can eyeball their schedule and taste the title race going down to the fire. Two of their three toughest remaining matches — Arsenal and Aston Villa — are at the Etihad Stadium and their trip to Chelsea comes after an international break. Haaland and Silva both mentioned they viewed this game as must-win. To some that’ll sound performative but the way Silva ripped the ball out of the goal when it was 1-1, inspiring Haaland to push for another, says something different. With Man City still to play Arsenal, those final few minutes altered the outlooks of two massive clubs.
What’s next?
City host Fulham on Wednesday in the Premier League, then welcome Salford City to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool have the same schedule, going to Sunderland on Wednesday in the league before a visit from Brighton in the FA Cup.
Liverpool vs Manchester City final score: 1-2
Dominik Szoboszlai 74′, Bernardo Silva 84′, Erling Haaland pen 90+3′
Liverpool vs Manchester City live updates — by Nick MendolaSzoboszlai red card, Man City free kick
Man City don’t get the goal because Haaland fouls Szoboszlai, but not Szoboszlai is set for a suspension for the DOGSO foul on Haaland prior to that.
Man City goal disallowed
Dominik Szoboszlai absolved a red card as a long ball carries over the line.
Rayan Cherki sends a low ball toward goal and Haaland gets behind Szoboszlai, who tugs Haaland on the arm.
Haaland fights through it and then fouls Szoboszlai.
Show-stopping, win-saving stop from Donnarumma
Alexis Mac Allister looks set to draw Liverpool level but Gianluigi Donnarumma reaches back to slap the ball away from the line.
What a save.
Erling Haaland penalty goal — Liverpool 1-2 Man City
He adds a goal to his assist with a clinical low penalty past the reach of a correctly-reading Alisson.
Haaland’s penalty lifts City ahead of Liverpool
Late drama at Anfield as Manchester City are awarded a penalty in injury time where Erling Haaland makes no mistake from the spot to give his side a 2-1 lead over Liverpool.
Man City penalty!
Alisson Becker is fuming!
This will be controversial, as Matheus Nunes races toward a long pass and pokes the ball wide of the goal.
Alisson Becker clatters into Nunes and sends the right back into the advertising boards.
Bernardo Silva goal — Liverpool 1-1 Man City
City answer!
Cherki’s cross into the mixer is headed toward goal by Haaland, and it was a pass (we think).
Bernardo Silva is kept onside by Szoboszlai, who didn’t move with the back line.
Silva snatches City’s equalizer against Liverpool
Manchester City get back on level terms as Bernardo Silva times his run to perfection before finding the back of the net to make it 1-1 at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai free kick goal — Liverpool 1-0 Man City
He’s done it again, kissing an absolute rocket of the post and into the back of the goal.
Szoboszlai’s screamer gives Liverpool lead v. City
Dominik Szoboszlai has done it again with another spectacular free kick from distance to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead over Manchester City at Anfield.
Salah denied penalty
Then Egyptian darts past Guehi to a through ball and the English back grabs his shirt outside the 18.
Salah goes down and wants a penalty. He’ll have to settle for dangerous free kick and a yellow card to Guehi.
Guehi denies Wirtz
A really good desperation block by Marc Guehi to deny Florian Wirtz an opener in the 65th minute.
Subs
Ruben Dias returns from his injury lay-off as a sub for Khusanov in the 61st minute, while Marmoush exits for Rayan Cherki.
Abdukhodir Khusanov down
Gakpo flashes over the net and Gianluigi Donnarumma’s charge to meet the chance sees his knee go into the head of Khusanov.
He’s clearly in distress but wants to play through it. Pep Guardiola says no.
And so should City!
City work the ball left to right and Semenyo needs to make one more pass to give Haaland an open look at goal, but instead he pastes a low shot into Alisson.
The Liverpool keeper acts quickly to send the Reds on the counter. Mo Salah sends a gorgeous outside-of-the-boot cross to Hugo Ekitike, but the forward nods across goal and wide of the post.
0-0, 57′.
Liverpool should be ahead!
Florian Wirtz wins his own loose ball off Rodri and two passes later there’s Hugo Ekitike on the left side of the 18, just inside the box.
But Ekitike’s curling shot across goal drifts past the far post.
No subs at the break
Will we see a breakthrough, or just another good step for Arsenal’s title march?
Halftime — Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
Something’s gotta give here. Man City aren’t getting enough out of what appears to be a front five. Omar Marmoush has found danger but not sharpness, and Nico O’Reilly is only supplying short passes.
Erling Haaland looks dangerous, as does Antoine Semenyo, but Liverpool are holding firm even if a bit casual at the back.
Ryan Gravenberch, Milos Kerkez, and Dominik Szoboszlai all had nice halves.
Shots are 10-3 for City with a 1.17-0.14 xG advantage and 61% possession.
Sloppy Liverpool
Man City are controlling the ball but making mistakes around the 18.
Yet Liverpool’s players seem to insist on taking chances at the back and the pressure valve stays packed in front of Alisson Becker.
The Reds have been better overall since Man City’s very bright start but they are still second best.
More danger from the visitors
Erling Haaland had an early hope stolen away from Alisson Becker and Omar Marmoush butchered an offside breakaway chance, as City have been te more likely to score a goal.
Twenty minutes in, Liverpool have done very little.
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike
Manchester City lineup
Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Marmoush, Haaland
Liverpool vs Manchester City preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Arne Slot’s Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champs but they’re 14 points behind leaders Arsenal heading into this weekend. Their main aim is to finish in the top four (top five will very likely be enough to be in the Champions League next season) and after their 4-1 hammering of Newcastle last weekend there are signs they can do that, plus go far in the Champions League.
Man City reached the League Cup final in midweek, where they will face Arsenal, after smashing Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate. But that came after Pep Guardiola’s side inexplicably coughed up a 2-0 lead at Spurs last weekend and just held on for a 2-2 draw. They are now seven points behind leaders Arsenal as defensive injuries have piled up in recent weeks.
Liverpool team news, focus
Jeremie Frimpong is definitely out for this game but Joe Gomez might be available to start at right back. Dominik Szoboszlai may keep playing out of position there in order to keep Alexis Mac Allister in midfield from the start. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak are all out. Slot has been hugely encouraged by the form of summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike as they have really found their feet in the Premier League, with Wirtz in particular finally settling in and having a huge impact in recent games.
Manchester City team news, focus
Center backs Josko Gvardiol and John Stones remain out injured, while Ruben Dias could make his return in this game. Jeremy Doku and Savinho are out injured, while Bernardo Silva is a doubt. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Rodri, and Gianluigi Donnarumma were all rested in midweek and will be fresh for this one. January signings Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were both linked with moves to Liverpool but have been huge for City since signing, and that duo could be the difference in this game.
Liverpool vs Manchester City prediction
This will likely be a fun one with both teams knowing how important a win is for their respective aims. Go for City to edge it. Liverpool 2-3 Manchester City.
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (February 8)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock