Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, reducing Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to six points. With six minutes remaining, City were trailing 1-0, but a spirited fightback saw Bernardo Silva equalize for the visitors before Haaland’s composed penalty in the dying moments turned the game on its head.
Liverpool had taken the lead through a brilliant free-kick by Dominik Szoboszlai, who fired a stunning shot into the top corner of the net. However, the hosts’ joy was short-lived. City responded with a well-executed equalizer from Silva, who capitalized on a defensive error and volleyed in a header from Haaland. The equalizer set the stage for an unforgettable finale.
In the final minutes, Alisson Becker, the Liverpool goalkeeper, brought down Matheus Nunes in the penalty area, leading to a penalty for Manchester City. Haaland, who had been struggling for form, stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, sending the ball past Alisson to give City the lead.
The drama didn’t end there. A few moments later, Szoboszlai, who had been a hero with his free-kick, became the villain. In the confusion following Haaland’s penalty, Szoboszlai was involved in a grappling incident with the Norwegian striker, which led to a second yellow card and an expulsion from the field, reducing Liverpool to 10 men.
With the scoreline settled at 2-1, City held their ground in the remaining minutes of the match, despite a deflected shot from Alexis Mac Allister that required a stunning save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to preserve their lead. In the dying seconds, Liverpool’s hopes of salvaging something from the game were dashed when Rayan Cherki aimed for an open net after Alisson had pushed forward. The strike was ruled out due to a foul on Haaland by Szoboszlai, who had already been sent off.
This victory marked Manchester City’s first win at Anfield in front of a crowd since 2003, and it adds more pressure on Arsenal as they aim for their first Premier League title in 22 years. City’s resilience also highlights the competitive nature of the title race, with Pep Guardiola’s men keeping up the chase for a third consecutive Premier League title.
For Liverpool, the loss was another blow to their hopes of securing a top-four finish and qualifying for next season’s Champions League. With City now just six points behind Arsenal, Liverpool’s grip on the race for European football has loosened, leaving their future uncertain as they remain in sixth place, four points adrift of the top five.
Haaland’s struggles in front of goal have been well-documented, with the Norwegian striker scoring just once from open play in his last 13 matches. Despite his lack of clinical form, Haaland has continued to make significant contributions when it matters, and his penalty against Liverpool was crucial in keeping Manchester City’s title hopes alive.
The match also saw Rayan Ait-Nouri and Marc Guehi of City involved in key moments. Guehi, in particular, faced significant scrutiny from Liverpool fans following a failed transfer move to the club. His defensive contributions were marked by boos from the Anfield crowd, but his resilience in helping City secure the win will ease some of the tension surrounding his arrival.
The game’s late drama, combined with Haaland’s penalty, made for an unforgettable encounter between two of the Premier League’s heavyweights. As City continue to pursue Arsenal for the title, Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions remain under threat, with questions now being asked about their current form and future aspirations.
