Chaos at Anfield: Last-Gasp Heartbreak for the Reds | Liverpool vs Manchester City: 1-2
Anfield bore witness to one of the most chaotic finishes in Premier League history today. What started as a tactical standoff between Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola ended in a storm of VAR controversy, late goals, and a red card that will be talked about for weeks.
Match Summary
The first half was a tense affair, with Manchester City dominating possession but struggling to break down a resilient Liverpool defense. The game truly ignited in the 74th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed a thunderous, swerving free-kick from 30 yards that flew past Gianluigi Donnarumma to give the Reds the lead.
However, the defending champions showed why they are never out of a title race. Bernardo Silva equalized in the 84th minute, turning home an Erling Haaland knockdown. Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes in the box. Erling Haaland stepped up and buried the resulting penalty to silence the Kop.
The Stoppage Time Chaos
The drama didn’t end with the penalty. In the dying seconds, with Alisson up for a corner, City’s Rayan Cherki rolled the ball into an empty net from the halfway line. However, a lengthy VAR review disallowed the goal, instead awarding a free-kick to City and a red card to Szoboszlai for a foul on Haaland earlier in the move.
What This Means for the Table
This result is a massive blow to Liverpool’s top-four ambitions, leaving them to rue missed opportunities. For Manchester City, the comeback victory cuts Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just six points, keeping the title race firmly alive as we head into the final stretch of the season.
”The penalty moment decided the game. You are never in complete control against City, especially when they are one-nil down.” — Post-match reaction from the Liverpool camp.
