In a breathtaking and chaotic finale at Anfield, Manchester City staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Liverpool 2-1, ensuring the Premier League title race remains intensely alive and etching a new, historic chapter in this storied rivalry.
For over seventy minutes, the match was a tense, high-stakes affair dominated by missed opportunities and stern defensive work.
Manchester City controlled the early proceedings, with Erling Haaland being denied by Alisson Becker within the first two minutes and the visitors registering ten first-half shots without breaking through.
Liverpool grew into the game after halftime, with Hugo Ekitike missing two golden chances, but it was City’s new defensive signing Marc Guéhi who stood out, making a series of crucial interventions including a vital block on Florian Wirtz.
The deadlock was shattered in spectacular fashion in the 74th minute.
Awarded a free-kick from nearly 35 yards, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed an unstoppable rocket that crashed off the post and into the net, sending the home crowd into delirium and seemingly putting the champions on course for a pivotal victory.
The goal, however, served to galvanize Pep Guardiola’s side. City responded with relentless pressure and were rewarded just six minutes later.
A cross into the Liverpool box was flicked on by Haaland, and captain Bernardo Silva arrived with perfect timing to volley home the equalizer, setting up a frantic final ten minutes.
The drama reached its peak in stoppage time when City defender Matheus Nunes burst into the box and was clumsily brought down by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, resulting in a penalty after a VAR check.
Haaland, who had provided the assist for the equalizer, coolly converted from the spot in the 93rd minute, whipping his shirt off in celebration to earn a booking as the away end erupted.
Liverpool nearly hit back immediately, but City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a stunning, acrobatic save to deny Alexis Mac Allister and preserve the lead.
Anfield then witnessed one of the most bizarre conclusions to any Premier League match. In the final moments, with Liverpool’s Alisson stranded upfield, City substitute Rayan Cherki intercepted the ball and rolled it toward the empty net from the halfway line.
As the ball trickled goalward, Szoboszlai and Haaland engaged in a mutual shirt-pulling wrestle, with the ball crossing the line. After wild City celebrations, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for a foul by Haaland on Szoboszlai.
However, in a further twist, the officials then reviewed the incident and showed Szoboszlai a red card for denying Haaland a clear goalscoring opportunity, ending the match with City taking a free-kick near their own box rather than celebrating a third goal.
The decision sparked confusion and controversy, with pundits like Sky Sports’ Gary Neville calling the disallowance a “killjoy” moment that robbed the game of a legendary finale.
The victory carries profound significance in the title race. Manchester City move to 50 points, cutting the gap to leaders Arsenal back to six points and maintaining fierce pressure at the top.
For Pep Guardiola, it was a landmark personal achievement, marking only his second-ever Premier League win at Anfield and his first in front of a full crowd.
Historically, City secured their first league double over Liverpool since the 1936-37 season. For Liverpool, the defeat is a crushing blow in their quest for a top-four finish, leaving them in sixth place with 39 points, and they will now face a trip to Sunderland without the suspended Szoboszlai.