LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND — Deep into stoppage time at Anfield, Erling Haaland kept his nerve from the penalty spot to hand Manchester City a priceless 2-1 victory over Liverpool in a Premier League thriller that saw the hosts reduced to nine men. The Norwegian's 90'+3' conversion completed a dramatic comeback after Dominik Szoboszlai's magnificent free kick had briefly leveled proceedings, with Bernardo Silva's 84th-minute equalizer setting the stage for late chaos.
The match exploded into life early as Haaland tested Alisson Becker in just the second minute, the Liverpool goalkeeper saving well from the striker's right-footed effort after Bernardo Silva threaded a perfectly weighted through ball. City controlled 53.5% of possession in the opening exchanges, probing for weaknesses in Liverpool's defensive structure while the hosts looked to exploit space on the counter-attack.
Liverpool's best chance of the first half arrived in the 52nd minute when Szoboszlai unleashed a right-footed drive from outside the box that forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into action, the City goalkeeper parrying away after good work from Mohamed Salah. Four minutes later, Antoine Semenyo tested Alisson again with a right-footed strike from distance, the Brazilian comfortably gathering as City continued to press.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 74th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Szoboszlai. Standing over a free kick in a dangerous position, the Hungarian midfielder curled a magnificent right-footed shot into the top right corner, leaving Donnarumma with no chance as Anfield erupted. The goal seemed to shift momentum decisively in Liverpool's favor, but City's response would prove devastating.
Pep Guardiola's side drew level just ten minutes later when Bernardo Silva pounced in the 84th minute, converting from close range after Haaland's intelligent headed pass found the Portuguese midfielder unmarked in the center of the box. The goal silenced the home crowd and set up a frantic finale that would see the match descend into chaos.
The turning point arrived in the 90'+1' minute when Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes inside the penalty area, referee awarding a spot-kick that would prove decisive. The Liverpool goalkeeper received a yellow card for the foul, and Haaland stepped up to drill his left-footed penalty into the bottom left corner, sending Alisson the wrong way to complete City's comeback.
The drama intensified further in the 90'+10' minute when Rayan Cherki thought he had extended City's lead, only for VAR to overturn the goal. Moments later, Dominik Szoboszlai received a straight red card in the 90'+13' minute for a foul on Haaland, reducing Liverpool to nine men and capping a miserable finale for the hosts.
The statistics reflected City's slight edge throughout the contest, with the visitors registering 17 shots to Liverpool's 15 and edging possession at 53.5%. Alisson Becker was the busier goalkeeper, making five saves compared to Donnarumma's three, while the referee brandished seven cards in a feisty affair that saw tempers flare as the match wore on. City's clinical finishing in the crucial moments proved the difference, with Haaland and Bernardo Silva punishing Liverpool's defensive lapses.
Manchester City's tactical discipline shone through in the second half as they maintained their shape despite Liverpool's pressure following Szoboszlai's free kick. Rodri controlled the midfield tempo, while Rayan Aït-Nouri provided width down the left, nearly adding a third in the 90'+7' minute when his left-footed shot from a difficult angle was saved by Alisson. The visitors' ability to create chances even in stoppage time demonstrated their superior fitness and mental strength.
Liverpool's attacking threat diminished significantly after Szoboszlai's dismissal, with Mohamed Salah isolated and unable to influence proceedings. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister worked tirelessly in midfield but couldn't stem City's late surge, while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté struggled to contain Haaland's movement in the box. The introduction of Federico Chiesa in the 90'+4' minute came too late to affect the outcome, though he did force Donnarumma into a save with a left-footed effort.
The result extends City's impressive form and consolidates their position in second place on 34 points, keeping pressure on the league leaders. For Liverpool, sitting seventh on 26 points with a goal difference of just +2, the defeat represents a significant setback in their pursuit of European qualification. The eight-point gap between the sides illustrates the gulf in class that emerged in the closing stages.
Buoyed by this result, Manchester City now prepare for Fulham on February 11, carrying momentum from this dramatic victory into their next challenge.