Manchester City overturned what looked like defeat at Anfield on Sunday, scoring twice in the final minutes to beat Liverpool 2-1 and keep the gap to leaders Arsenal at six points. Bernardo Silva levelled late in stoppage time before Erling Haaland converted a stoppage-time penalty to win it for City. The match finished in controversy after a VAR review disallowed a bizarre last-gasp goal from Rayan Cherki and sent Dominik Szoboszlai off for a foul in the build-up. The result keeps City firmly in the title conversation as both clubs move into midweek fixtures.
Key takeaways
- Final score: Manchester City 2, Liverpool 1 — Silva equalised in stoppage time and Haaland won it from the spot later in added time.
- Title picture: City remain six points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table but have a midweek game (Fulham, Feb 11) before Arsenal play Brentford.
- Late controversy: A stoppage‑time Cherki strike that looked like a goal was overturned after VAR; Dominik Szoboszlai was shown a red card following the same review.
- Szoboszlai impact: The Hungarian scored from a long free kick — his ninth goal of the season and his third free‑kick in five games — before being dismissed late on.
- Anfield context: City’s win at Anfield was notable given the club have managed only three league victories there since 1953, highlighting the rarity and psychological value of the result.
- Immediate consequences: Szoboszlai will be suspended for Liverpool’s next match (Sunderland, Feb 11); City travel to Fulham the same night (Feb 11, 7:30pm UK).
Background
The Premier League title race has tightened into a three‑way conversation this season, but Arsenal led the table going into this round and City entered Anfield needing results to keep pressure on. Manchester City have struggled at times to control the second halves of matches this season, which has contributed to dropped points; overcoming that weakness in hostile venues has been one of Pep Guardiola’s recurring challenges. Liverpool, managed by Slot, approached the game with tactical man‑marking instructions in key areas and relied on set‑piece threats — a role Szoboszlai has increasingly filled.
Historically, Anfield has been a difficult place for visiting sides; City’s sparse list of league wins there underscores the significance when they do succeed. The fixture carried extra weight because of prior contentious decisions between the clubs this season and because both sides are still battling for top honours. With busy schedules ahead — domestic and European — every late‑season swing in confidence or suspension can have outsized effect on the run‑in.
Main event
Liverpool took the lead in the second half with Szoboszlai’s long free kick, the sort of set‑piece that has become a key weapon for him this season. The strike — from distance and delivered with precision — was his ninth goal of the campaign and his third free‑kick in five matches, continuing a recent rich vein of form. That gave Liverpool the lead and looked to have put City under fresh pressure.
City responded by absorbing Liverpool’s second‑half momentum and finding opportunities on the counter; Bernardo Silva levelled in stoppage time to send the Etihad fans and travelling contingent into hope. The decisive moment arrived even later: in the final seconds, with goalkeeper Alisson having gone up for a Liverpool corner, Rayan Cherki rolled the ball toward an unguarded net and it trickled in. Initially the referee allowed the goal.
VAR intervened. After a review that examined a tussle between Szoboszlai and Erling Haaland during the race to the ball, the on‑field decision was overturned. Referee Craig Pawson, relaying VAR advice, disallowed the goal and issued a red card to Szoboszlai for a foul in the build‑up; City were instead given a direct free kick. Shortly after that, Haaland converted a penalty to complete a remarkable stoppage‑time turnaround and secure three points for City.
Analysis & implications
From a title‑race standpoint the result matters more for momentum and belief than for the points gap, which remains six in Arsenal’s favour. City showed resilience in a place where wins are rare — an outcome that could have a psychological effect across the squad as they navigate the run‑in. That said, Arsenal still control their destiny in practical terms: they maintain a lead and have fixtures of their own in midweek that will shape the next narrative turn.
The VAR finish underlines persistent tensions around the technology’s influence on dramatic late moments. Officials must balance the letter of the laws — fouls in the build‑up and denial of obvious goal‑scoring opportunities can carry red cards — with the footballing context fans and managers expect preserved. This incident will reignite debate over whether VAR interventions in stoppage time, when emotions and chaos are highest, are producing clarity or confusion.
For Liverpool, Szoboszlai’s red card is a heavy blow beyond the match itself: losing a set‑piece specialist and in‑form scorer for the next league game matters materially given the tight calendar. For City, the victory may paper over underlying problems with second‑half possession and control, but it also demonstrates the squad’s capacity to grind out results under intense pressure. Both clubs now face congested schedules where recovery, rotation and disciplinary consequences will matter.
Comparison & data
| Team | Immediate next fixture | Kickoff (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | vs Fulham (Home) | Feb 11, 19:30 |
| Liverpool | vs Sunderland (Away) | Feb 11, 20:15 |
| Arsenal (leaders) | vs Brentford | Feb 12, TBC |
Context: City remain six points adrift of Arsenal after this round; the table gap and the order of upcoming fixtures give City an immediate chance to apply pressure if Arsenal slip. City’s historical record at Anfield has been poor — only three league wins there since 1953 — which magnifies the importance of this victory for morale, even if league mathematics still favour the leaders.
Reactions & quotes
Managers and pundits reacted with a mix of frustration and acceptance, reflecting the contentious ending.
“Do you mean the disallowed goal at City? … I can live with the fact, despite not liking it, that the referee follows the rulebook with Dominik.”
Slot, Liverpool manager (post‑match comments)
Slot acknowledged the red card for Szoboszlai while expressing frustration at other past decisions he felt had gone against his team. He framed his remarks around consistency in officiating rather than overt anger at VAR itself.
“What a strike. In the end, belief from our captain; his character, personality, not giving up.”
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager (Sky Sports)
Guardiola praised his players’ perseverance and singled out Silva’s and Haaland’s roles in turning the game around, while also voicing irritation about late VAR intervention on other broadcast platforms: “Come on referee, give goal and go home!”
“After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland… Prior to that, Szoboszlai…”
Premier League Match Centre (official VAR summary)
The league’s official match centre provided a short statement summarising the on‑field reversal and the disciplinary outcome, which has been central to subsequent discussion.
Unconfirmed
- The precise sequence of shirt pulls and which player committed the initial foul remains debated in public accounts and is not fully reconstructed in the official summary.
- Whether any additional disciplinary action (beyond the in‑game red card) will be taken by the FA has not been announced at the time of reporting.
- Full VAR audio/angle disclosures that could definitively explain the reversal decision have not been released publicly.
Bottom line
City’s stoppage‑time comeback at Anfield keeps the title race alive and hands Guardiola’s side a potent psychological boost, but Arsenal’s six‑point cushion still places them in the stronger position. The late VAR intervention and Szoboszlai’s dismissal will prolong debate about refereeing standards and how rules are applied in the game’s most dramatic moments. Practically, Liverpool must cope without a key set‑piece taker for their next match, while City can bank three points and try to convert the momentum into consistent results through the busy February schedule.
As the calendar compresses, small margins—suspensions, single refereeing calls, recovery from late drama—are likely to shape the outcome more than isolated performances. Fans and pundits will watch both the standings and the FA’s handling of the incident closely in the coming days.