Manchester City Defeat Liverpool by 2-1 in Premier League
Manchester City defeat Liverpool by 2-1 in Premier League action at Anfield in one of the most dramatic matches of the 2025–26 season, keeping Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in the title hunt and breathing new life into the Premier League title race.
City arrived on Merseyside knowing that anything other than victory would all but end their hopes of catching league leaders Arsenal. What followed was a pulsating contest full of quality, controversy, and late drama that underlined why Manchester City vs Liverpool at Anfield remains one of English football’s defining rivalries.
City Knew Only Victory Would Do at Anfield
Before kick-off, the stakes could not have been clearer. With Arsenal holding a commanding lead at the top of the table, City faced the prospect of falling nine points behind if they failed to win. Captain Bernardo Silva later admitted the squad felt immense pressure heading into the match.
“For the distance that we have to Arsenal, coming here it is the toughest place in the Premier League by far,” Silva said.
“If we lost, the title race was probably over. We felt like we needed to win.”
That urgency showed in City’s performance, particularly in the first half, where Guardiola’s side dominated possession and pressed aggressively despite Liverpool’s intensity.
Liverpool Strike First Through Szoboszlai
Despite City’s control, it was Liverpool who struck first. Late in the match, Dominik Szoboszlai produced a stunning free kick that left the Etihad visitors staring at defeat. The goal sent Anfield into raptures and appeared set to derail City’s title ambitions.
At that moment, the Premier League title race seemed to be slipping away from Guardiola’s men. Liverpool, struggling for consistency in 2026, suddenly had the advantage against a City side that had little margin for error.
Bernardo Silva Equaliser Ignites Late Drama
With time running out, City refused to give in. The moment that changed everything arrived in the 84th minute when the Bernardo Silva equaliser stunned the home crowd. The City captain showed composure and belief, driving forward and finishing clinically to level the score at 1-1.
Guardiola later praised Silva’s leadership and mentality:
“Belief from our captain, his character, his personality — not giving up — that’s how we came back.”
The equaliser set up a frantic finale, with both teams pushing relentlessly for a decisive goal.
Haaland’s Stoppage-Time Winner Silences Anfield
Just three minutes into stoppage time, the moment City needed finally arrived. Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time goal completed a stunning comeback, as the Norwegian striker powered home to make it 2-1.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the travelling supporters and the City bench, while Anfield was left in stunned silence. For City, it was not just a winner — it was a lifeline in the title race.
However, the drama was far from over.
Controversy, Red Card, and Disallowed Goal
In the chaos that followed, Liverpool pushed desperately for an equaliser. A controversial sequence saw a potential Liverpool goal ruled out after Szoboszlai was judged to have pulled Haaland back before the Norwegian reacted.
Szoboszlai was shown a red card for the initial offence, ruling him out of Liverpool’s upcoming trip to Sunderland on February 11. Both teams expressed frustration at the officiating, with Guardiola joking:
“Come on referee, give the goal and go home.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was furious, particularly about an earlier incident when Marc Guehi received only a yellow card for pulling Mohamed Salah back when he was through on goal.
“Anyone who knows this stadium knows that’s a goal for Salah,” Slot said. “Once again, the referee decides not in our favour.”
Premier League Standings After City’s Win
The result has major implications for the title race and European qualification spots.
Premier League 2025–26 Standings
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
MP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1 |
Arsenal |
56 |
25 |
17 |
3 |
5 |
49 |
17 |
+32 |
| 2 |
Man City |
50 |
25 |
15 |
5 |
5 |
51 |
24 |
+27 |
| 3 |
Aston Villa |
47 |
25 |
14 |
6 |
5 |
36 |
27 |
+9 |
| 4 |
Man Utd |
44 |
25 |
12 |
5 |
8 |
46 |
36 |
+10 |
| 5 |
Chelsea |
43 |
25 |
12 |
6 |
7 |
45 |
28 |
+17 |
| 6 |
Liverpool |
39 |
25 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
40 |
35 |
+5 |
What the Result Means for the Title Race
Thanks to this result, Manchester City defeat Liverpool 2-1 to close the gap on Arsenal to six points. While the deficit remains significant, Guardiola insists there is still hope.
“We are six points behind, it is a big gap, but many things can still happen,” he said.
For City, the win marks their first away victory against Liverpool in front of a crowd since 2003 and completes a league double over the Reds for the first time since 1937 — a remarkable statistic that highlights the significance of the achievement.
Liverpool’s Struggles Continue Despite Improvement
For Liverpool, the defeat deepens a frustrating season. The reigning champions have now won just one of their seven Premier League matches in 2026, slipping to sixth and four points outside the top five.
Despite the results, Slot remains optimistic.
“You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago. We have improved so much, but we need to improve the results,” he said.
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Conclusion
As Manchester City defeat Liverpool by 2-1 in Premier League fashion, the result may prove pivotal in the season’s final months. Bernardo Silva’s leadership, combined with Erling Haaland’s clinical edge, kept City’s title hopes alive and delivered one of the most memorable matches of the campaign.
With the Premier League title race far from settled, this Anfield classic could be remembered as the night City refused to surrender — and chose belief over defeat.
