Haaland Penalty Seals City’s Dramatic Anfield Victory

LIVERPOOL (Azat TV) – Manchester City clinched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, February 8, 2026, significantly narrowing the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to six points and injecting fresh impetus into their title challenge. The decisive late goals from Bernardo Silva and a stoppage-time penalty by Erling Haaland orchestrated a stunning comeback, overturning Dominik Szoboszlai’s spectacular earlier opener for Liverpool.

The highly anticipated clash, officiated by Craig Pawson, saw a tense first half end goalless, with both sides creating opportunities but failing to convert. Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, notably made a monumental save from Alexis Mac Allister’s volley, keeping his team in the contest. Liverpool’s Marc Guehi, a former transfer target for the Reds who ultimately joined City, received a mixed reception from the Anfield crowd throughout the match.

Late Drama at Anfield Propels Manchester City

The second half exploded into action, with Liverpool breaking the deadlock in the 74th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai, playing at right-back, unleashed a magnificent free-kick that curled into the top corner, leaving Donnarumma with no chance and sending Anfield into raptures. The goal seemed to put Liverpool on course for a vital win, which would have lifted them closer to the top five.

However, Manchester City, known for their resilience, mounted a formidable comeback. In the 84th minute, Bernardo Silva, who was arguably the best player on the pitch, capitalized on a knockdown from Erling Haaland to slide home the equalizer, silencing the home crowd. The intensity ratcheted up even further in stoppage time when City was awarded a penalty after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes in the box. Erling Haaland stepped up and drilled the spot-kick into the corner in the 93rd minute, sparking pandemonium among the away supporters and sealing City’s dramatic 2-1 victory, as reported by Sporting News.

Szoboszlai’s Brilliance and City’s Resilience

The match concluded with further drama as Dominik Szoboszlai was shown a red card in the 90+12th minute following a VAR review. The sending off occurred after Szoboszlai pulled back Haaland, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, in a chaotic sequence that saw a potential third City goal disallowed due to a prior foul by Haaland himself, as detailed by Al Jazeera. Despite the late red card, the scoreline remained 2-1 in favor of Manchester City.

This victory marks a significant moment for Pep Guardiola’s side, who have historically struggled at Anfield. Prior to this match, City had not won at Anfield in front of a crowd since 2003, with their only other win in the interim being a 4-1 triumph during the behind-closed-doors season of 2020/21. Breaking this long-standing hoodoo with a late comeback underscores the psychological boost for the team in their title pursuit.

Title Race Implications After Liverpool Defeat

The win is a massive boost for Manchester City’s Premier League title aspirations. Having entered the match nine points behind leaders Arsenal after dropping points in recent games, this triumph reduces the deficit to a more manageable six points. With City scheduled to play before Arsenal in their midweek fixture, the pressure is now firmly on Mikel Arteta’s side to maintain their lead. For Liverpool, the defeat is a setback in their bid for a top-four finish, leaving them to reflect on a game they led for a significant period.

The hard-fought victory at Anfield, a venue that has historically proven challenging for Manchester City, underscores the team’s renewed resolve and tactical adaptability under pressure, potentially signaling a significant shift in the Premier League title race dynamics as they cut Arsenal’s lead.