Man City vs Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on late Haaland penalty
Manchester City pulled off a dramatic 2-1 comeback win at Liverpool on Sunday, February 8, 2026, overturning a late deficit with two goals in the final minutes and a stoppage-time penalty from Erling Haaland. The result kept City’s title chase alive and left Liverpool absorbing a bruising finish that included a disallowed last-gasp equalizer and a red card.
Kickoff was 11:30 a.m. ET at Anfield.
How the match flipped late
For long stretches, the game looked headed for a narrow Liverpool win after Dominik Szoboszlai broke the deadlock with a thunderous free kick in the 74th minute. Liverpool’s lead, though, came at a point when City were still pushing numbers forward and creating pressure in and around the box.
City’s response arrived quickly and decisively. In the 84th minute, Bernardo Silva finished after a sequence involving Haaland, leveling the score and shifting the energy of the stadium. From there, the match turned chaotic: Liverpool tried to manage the clock, City kept driving forward, and the final moments became a test of composure.
In added time, City won a penalty after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes in the area during a scramble. Haaland converted in the 90+3 minute to complete the turnaround.
Key moments at a glance
| Match moment | Time (match clock) | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool opener | 74’ | Szoboszlai scored from a long-range free kick |
| City equalizer | 84’ | Bernardo Silva finished after Haaland’s involvement |
| Penalty awarded | 90+3’ | Alisson fouled Nunes; spot kick given |
| Winner | 90+3’ | Haaland scored the penalty |
| Late chaos | 90+12’–90+13’ | A late Liverpool goal was ruled out after review; Szoboszlai sent off |
Why the fall looked so crushing for Liverpool
The final sequence felt severe not just because of the penalty, but because Liverpool briefly thought they had salvaged the match after a frantic push at the death. A long-range strike from Rayan Cherki appeared to level it, only for the goal to be overturned following a review that instead produced a free kick for City in the buildup.
Szoboszlai’s red card—shown for a professional foul in the dying seconds—compounded Liverpool’s frustration and could affect their upcoming lineup depending on disciplinary outcomes.
The net effect was a finish that delivered maximum emotional swing: from Liverpool leading late, to level, to behind on a penalty, to a fleeting hope of rescue, and then a final reversal.
Tactical snapshot: City’s pressure and Liverpool’s fine margins
City’s ability to keep attacking after going behind was the story. Their late equalizer came from sustained pressure and quick combinations around the box, forcing Liverpool’s defensive line into repeated last-ditch decisions. Once the match reached its final minutes, City were playing almost entirely in Liverpool’s half.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had moments where they looked set to manage the game. The free-kick opener gave them a platform, and they created enough danger to suggest the match was still within their control. But the final stages demanded clean exits, clear communication, and calm decision-making under relentless pressure—exactly where the margins disappeared.
The penalty incident underlined the risk: one mistimed challenge or split-second misread inside the box can erase 80 minutes of work.
What it means for the title race
City’s win tightened the top-end picture and kept them within striking distance of the leaders. The gap to first place remained meaningful, but the performance—and the manner of the comeback—reinforced that City are still capable of turning big matches with one burst of late execution.
For Liverpool, the defeat stung because it was so close to being a statement win. Dropping points at home in this way can have a compounding effect, especially with a busy schedule ahead and the added uncertainty of suspensions.
What comes next
Both sides move quickly into the next league round with little time to reset. Liverpool will need to regroup defensively and mentally after a late collapse, while City will try to carry the momentum forward, particularly if Haaland and Silva continue combining effectively in transition moments late in matches.
If the title race stays tight, this match may be remembered less for the free-kick brilliance and more for the final ten minutes—when City found two goals, Liverpool lost control of the ending, and the pressure of the moment reshaped the table.
Sources consulted: Premier League, Reuters, The Guardian, Al Jazeera
