In a contest that will be replayed on highlight reels for decades, Manchester City produced one of the great Anfield comebacks to defeat Liverpool 2-1. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring a world-class free-kick, a last-gasp winner, and a dramatic red card. By the time the final whistle blew after over 100 minutes of chaos, Pep Guardiola’s side had not only kept their title hopes alive but had etched their names into the history books.
The Hero Turns Villain: Szoboszlai’s Night
For 74 minutes, it looked like Liverpool would be the ones celebrating a victory that would all but secure Arsenal‘s position at the top of the Premier League. The breakthrough came via the boot of Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder stepped up to a free-kick 25 yards out and unleashed an absolute thunderbolt. The ball swerved viciously, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma and crashing in off the post. Anfield erupted, sensing a crucial three points.
However, football has a cruel way of balancing the books. In the dying embers of the game, Szoboszlai went from hero to zero. With Liverpool pushing everyone forward in search of a winner, he was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Erling Haaland, denying the striker a clear run at an open goal.
The Champion’s Response: Silva and Haaland Strike
Trailing 1-0 with time running out, Manchester City displayed the resilience of champions. They found their equalizer in the 84th minute through Bernardo Silva. Erling Haaland did the hard work, holding off defenders to lay the ball on a plate, and Silva slotted it home with composure.
The drama, however, was far from over. In the third minute of stoppage time, chaos ensued in the Liverpool box. Alisson Becker collided with Matheus Nunes, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Haaland, ice-cool as ever, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to snatch a victory that seemed impossible just ten minutes prior.
Breaking Anfield Hoodoos
This victory carries profound historical weight. It marks Manchester City‘s first league double over Liverpool since the 1936-37 season—a wait of nearly nine decades. Furthermore, it is only their third Premier League win at Anfield since 1992, a venue that has traditionally been a fortress for the Reds.
The result cuts Arsenal‘s lead at the top to six points, re-igniting a title race that many thought was slipping away. As the City fans celebrated in the away end, they knew they had witnessed something special: a comeback fueled by pure grit and a refusal to accept defeat.
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