Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race on Sunday at Anfield, beating Liverpool 2-1 through Erling Haaland’s late penalty, surviving VAR chaos, and cutting Arsenal’s lead as Pep Guardiola insisted the chase remains alive.
City arrived knowing anything less than victory would dent their hopes. They left with belief, noise and three points that keep them firmly in the slipstream of the leaders.
Liverpool struck first through Dominik Szoboszlai’s sublime free-kick, a moment that lifted Anfield and threatened to tilt the night. City responded not with panic, but with control and patience.
Bernardo Silva dragged City level when Liverpool hesitated in midfield. He attacked the loose ball, struck with venom, and shifted the momentum instantly.
The decisive moment came when Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes. Haaland stepped up, slowed everything down, and buried the penalty with cold authority.
Guardiola framed the wider picture rather than the single win. “We are six points behind. Yes, it’s a big difference, but many things can happen. So these three points are good,” he said, and he sounded like a man who trusts history as much as form.
City’s manager pointed to the chaos still to come. “Who knows if six points is enough? Thirteen games is a lot and there is the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup final, the Champions League in March and injuries can happen,” he added, a reminder that spring always tests title favourites.
Liverpool pushed hard for an equaliser and thought they had one through Rayan Cherki’s long-range strike. VAR intervened, ruled out the goal, awarded City a free-kick, and sent off Szoboszlai for denying a clear chance.
Guardiola did not hide his frustration. “What does common sense say? After so many pulls referees let the game go. It should have been a goal and we could have kept playing with Szoboszlai on the pitch,” he said, and his point landed.
The controversy only added to the theatre of stoppage time. City absorbed pressure, slowed the tempo, and managed the moment like serial winners.
This win marked the first time in 89 years that City have beaten Liverpool twice in the same league season. That statistic matters in a rivalry built on fine margins and emotional swings.
City now trail Arsenal by six points, with a chance to reduce that gap if they beat Fulham at the Etihad. Arsenal face Brentford next, and Guardiola knows exactly where to apply pressure.
“From experience, thirteen games is a long time. It’s very, very difficult, but it’s important to be there,” Guardiola said. “Now we breathe on Arsenal’s neck. If they slip, we have to punish it.”
Liverpool, meanwhile, suffer another blow to their Champions League ambitions. They sit sixth, four points behind Chelsea, and cannot afford many more nights like this.
