Erling Haaland scored a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City came from behind late on to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield – and keep the title race alive.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s sensational free-kick had looked set to secure the victory for the reigning Premier League champions but Bernardo Silva forced in an equaliser in the 84th minute before Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes to leave the crowd stunned.
Haaland then tucked away the spot-kick but there was still time for drama at both ends of the pitch. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved brilliantly from Alexis Mac Allister before Szoboszlai was sent off amid VAR confusion as Rayan Cherki’s goal was ruled out.
The three points, secured in such dramatic fashion, move City back within six points of Arsenal at the top.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool, meanwhile, remain four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea and in danger of missing out on next season’s Champions League.
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Dominik Szoboszlai scored a sensational free-kick to give Liverpool the lead!
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Bernardo Silva brought Man City level late in the game
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Erling Haaland converted a stoppage-time penalty to win it for Man City
How Man City conjured comeback
It was a game that took time to ignite, Haaland having the best chance of the first half just moments into the match, only for Alisson to smother. City were the better side in the first half but Liverpool threw everything at them in an astonishing second half.
Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike wasted good chances before Florian Wirtz should have done better than strike Marc Guehi, whose every touch was booed by the Liverpool fans. But none of it seemed to matter when Szoboszlai’s free-kick rocketed into the net.
The Hungarian saw off Arsenal with a similar strike in front of the Kop but City conjured a comeback for the ages with substitute Cherki at its heart. It was his cross that Haaland nodded into Silva’s path for the equaliser before he sent Nunes away to win the penalty.
Haaland’s first Anfield goal proved the winner but only before Donnarumma’s heroics and a moment of controversy when Cherki stroked home with Alisson up the pitch. Szoboszlai pulled Haaland back outside the box, and the City striker returned the favour in the area.
Haaland’s foul meant, technically, the goal could not be given, but that required referee Craig Pawson to consider the earlier foul by Szoboszlai – and send off the Liverpool player for denying a goalscoring opportunity. It left both teams unsatisfied with the call.
“Just give the goal, don’t give a red card. Simple as that,” said Haaland afterwards. “It’s the rules and how it is.” But it was a footnote, really. The tale of this extraordinary match is that City – somehow – retain their hopes of recapturing the Premier League title.
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Szoboszlai sees RED and Manchester City have goal disallowed amid last-gasp VAR drama!
Silva: If we’d lost title race was over
Man City captain Bernardo Silva speaking to Sky Sports:
“The whole team knew that if we lost this game, probably the title race is over. They’re still in a much better position than us. That puts us a bit closer. We’re going to fight until the end. It’s six points, we’re happy, but we need to keep doing our job – which we have not lately.”
