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Haaland strikes late to keep Manchester City in title race

Feb 8, 2026, 7:54 PM60
(Update: Feb 9, 2026, 1:00 PM)
Norwegian association football player
association football club in Manchester, England
city in Merseyside, England, United Kingdom

Haaland strikes late to keep Manchester City in title race

  • Liverpool took the lead with a stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai with 16 minutes left in the match.
  • Bernardo Silva equalized for Manchester City, heading the ball in after a knockdown from Erling Haaland.
  • Erling Haaland scored a penalty in injury time to secure a vital victory that keeps City in the title race.
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In England, Manchester City staged a remarkable comeback against Liverpool on February 4, 2026, winning 2-1 at Anfield. The match started with Liverpool taking the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick in the 74th minute, leaving City trailing as the clock wound down. As City desperately sought an equalizer, Bernardo Silva volleyed Haaland's knockdown shortly before injury time, bringing City back on level terms. Moments later, with just seconds remaining, Matheus Nunes was fouled by Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker, leading to an injury-time penalty, which Erling Haaland converted, marking his second Premier League goal since Christmas. This victory was crucial in keeping City's title hopes alive, pulling them within six points of league leaders Arsenal with 13 games left in the season. The late drama featured several key events, including a controversial moment where Rayan Cherki scored a long-range goal, only for the referee to disallow it after a VAR check revealed a foul committed on Haaland by Szoboszlai. The refereeing decisions sparked indignation among both players and pundits, emphasizing the thin line between decisive officiating and game-altering errors in high-stakes matches. Szoboszlai, who had scored Liverpool's impressive opener, was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity following the decision, leaving Liverpool to finish the match with ten men. Despite the intense pressure City faced, with players like Haaland and Silva rising to the occasion, manager Pep Guardiola remained cautious about the title race outcome. He remarked on the relentless competition, stating that although six points was an improvement over nine, much could still change with 13 games remaining. He stressed the need for City to maintain focus and perform consistently to sustain their title challenge. The victory was only City's second win in their last seven games, illustrating the tension within the squad as they navigated the demanding Premier League schedule. On the other side, Liverpool's defeat has fueled doubts over their Champions League qualification, as they sit in sixth place, trailing Chelsea by four points. Former defender Jamie Carragher indicated that Liverpool would require a significant turnaround in form to have any chance of breaking into the top five. This ongoing struggle to maintain consistency has led to questions about squad depth and performance, notably in key defensive areas. The loss has been a painful reminder for fans that, despite playing well in moments, their current standing does not reflect the potential of the team.

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