By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
In a pulsating Premier League clash that confirms the intensity of English football’s fiercest rivalries, Manchester City staged a stunning late comeback to defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, keeping their title hopes alive and narrowing the gap to leaders Arsenal to six points. The match, played under the floodlights on a chilly Sunday evening, was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring a world-class free-kick, a frantic equalizer, a controversial penalty, and a red card in the final seconds.
The first half was a tense affair, with both sides probing but failing to break the deadlock. Liverpool, under manager Arne Slot, controlled possession early on, with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike testing City’s defense. However, Erling Haaland had his chances for the visitors, only to be thwarted by Alisson’s sharp saves. Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, looked resilient despite recent criticisms of their form, with Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making a series of vital interventions on his first trip to Anfield.
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed a thunderbolt free-kick from 30 yards out. Curling the ball with the outside of his right boot, it dipped and swerved past Donnarumma, clipping the post before nestling in the net. Anfield erupted as the Hungarian’s strike seemed set to secure three crucial points for the Reds.
But City, true to their championship pedigree, refused to give up. In the 84th minute, Bernardo Silva pounced on a cushioned header from Haaland to volley home from close range, leveling the score and shifting the momentum.
The drama peaked in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Alisson fouled Matheus Nunes in the box, leading to a VAR-confirmed penalty. Haaland stepped up and coolly slotted it home—his 21st league goal of the season and his first ever at Anfield—sending the away fans into ecstasy. Adding to the chaos, Szoboszlai was shown a red card in the final minutes of added time. After Alisson went up for a corner, City’s Rayan Cherki shot toward an empty net; Szoboszlai was judged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by pulling Haaland back as they raced for the ball.
Post-match, Guardiola praised his team’s resilience: “Anfield is never easy, but we fought until the end.” Slot, meanwhile, lamented the late decisions: “We dominated for large parts, but once again, the referee decides not in our favour.”
Statistically, the game was a dead heat: City held 16 shots to Liverpool’s 15, and the win officially marked City’s first league double over Liverpool in 89 years. With Arsenal still leading the pack, the title race remains open, and City’s late heroics could prove pivotal come May.
Galaxy Sports Production
Should we send you latest update about your favourite sports and team?
Enter you email in the box below and hit the subscribe button to join our teaming 876+ sports community.
