6 Dramatic Moments in Heated Liverpool vs Manchester City Clash

The match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, 8 February 2026 will be remembered not only for its dramatic comeback but also for unforgettable moments showcasing quality, emotion, and controversy.

Here are the highlights from the Liverpool vs Manchester City match in week 25 of the Premier League:

In the 74th minute, Liverpool finally broke the deadlock through Dominik Szoboszlai's extraordinary free kick. The powerful long-range strike curled over the wall and into City's net, sending Anfield into euphoria. This was no ordinary goal – a pure long-range masterpiece almost certain to be a Goal of the Season contender.

1. Dominik Szoboszlai's Spectacular Goal

2. Jersey Pull on Mohamed Salah That Ignited Tension

A spotlight moment occurred when Marc Guehi tugged Mohamed Salah's jersey during a promising Liverpool attack, tearing the fabric. Despite home-team protests, the referee only showed Guehi a yellow card rather than awarding a penalty. This incident highlighted the midfield battle's intensity and the razor-thin margins in high-stakes matches.

3. Deciding Penalty by Erling Haaland — Breaking the Anfield Curse

Drama peaked in injury time when Liverpool conceded a penalty after Alisson Becker fouled Matheus Nunes in the box. Haaland – who'd never scored at Anfield in the Premier League – calmly converted to break his curse and put City ahead 2-1. 

4. Alisson's Two Blunders

The Brazilian keeper had an uncharacteristically shaky performance. Beyond conceding the penalty, he repeatedly strayed too far from his line during Liverpool's late attacking pushes. One such incident nearly gifted City a goal before being overturned by VAR – showcasing how elite players' decision-making crumbles under pressure.

5. Cherki's Disallowed Goal After VAR Chaos

During intense added time, Rayan Cherki seemingly scored into Liverpool's empty net (with Alisson caught upfield). But VAR disallowed it after reviewing an earlier shirt-pulling duel between Szoboszlai and Haaland during their sprint. Officials deemed Szoboszlai's foul denied Haaland a clear chance – voiding the goal and showing the Hungarian a red card. This ignited fierce debate about VAR's technical interpretation.

6. City's Historic Victory — First Back-to-Back Wins in 89 Years

This 2-1 win marked Manchester City's first consecutive league victories over Liverpool since the 1936-37 season – a historic feat underscoring how rare it's been for any team to beat Liverpool twice Running.