Haaland's Last-Gasp Penalty Caps Manchester City's Stunning Anfield Comeback Against Liverpool

Erling Haaland kept Manchester City's Premier League title aspirations alive with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to seal a 2-1 comeback victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The Norwegian striker's nerveless spot-kick capped one of the season's most thrilling encounters, sending City's traveling support into raptures and dealing a significant blow to Liverpool's own title ambitions. Liverpool looked set to claim all three points after Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning free-kick that swerved past City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Hungarian midfielder's brilliantly executed set piece had given the Reds the lead and momentum seemed firmly in the home side's favor. However, Pep Guardiola's side refused to accept defeat and mounted a relentless assault on Liverpool's goal in the final stages. The equalizer arrived in the 84th minute through Bernardo Silva, who showed excellent awareness and technique to volley home Haaland's cushioned header. The Portuguese midfielder slid in at the far post to beat Alisson and restore parity, setting up a frenzied finish. The Anfield crowd was still absorbing the blow when City earned their dramatic late penalty. Deep into stoppage time, Matheus Nunes drove into the Liverpool penalty area and was brought down, prompting referee Michael Oliver to point to the spot. Haaland stepped up with ice in his veins and dispatched the penalty past Alisson to complete the comeback. The match also featured significant controversy when Szoboszlai received a straight red card following an incident with Haaland, though this came after City had already taken the lead. The victory narrows the gap between City and league leaders Arsenal, keeping Guardiola's side firmly in the title race with several months of the season remaining. For Liverpool, the defeat represents a painful missed opportunity to strengthen their own position near the top of the table. The dramatic nature of City's win demonstrates once again why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in world football, capable of snatching victory even when defeat seems certain.