—- Anfield has celebrated its fair share of football drama but for once it was the visiting fans in sky blue who left the stadium in a state of disbelief.

In a match that will surely be remembered as a foundational moment of the 2025-26 Premier League title race, Manchester City overcame a stunning Liverpool lead in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory, keeping their pursuit of Arsenal very much alive.

For 73 minutes, the contest was a high-stakes chess match. Both sides pressed with ferocious intensity, but the deadlock remained unbroken until Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to a free-kick nearly 30 metres out. His swerving, unstoppable effort crashed off the right post and into the net, sending the Kop into a frenzy.

For a moment, it seemed Liverpool would not only derail City’s title hopes but also cement their own charge toward the top four.

Pep Guardiola’s side, however, refused to fold. The response began in the 84th minute when Bernardo Silva—the heartbeat of the City midfield—latched onto a looping header from Erling Haaland to volley home the equalizer.The real drama arrived in stoppage time.

As City poured forward, Matheus Nunes was brought down by Alisson Becker in the box. Erling Haaland, who had been relatively quiet by his usual standards, stepped up under immense pressure to bury the penalty in the 93rd minute. It was his first-ever Premier League goal at Anfield, and it could not have come at a more critical juncture.

The final whistle didn’t come before one last dose of VAR-induced chaos. With Alisson pushed forward for a desperate Liverpool corner, City’s Rayan Cherki appeared to have scored a third from the halfway line. However, the goal was chalked off following a pitchside review. Amid the confusion, Szoboszlai—Liverpool’s earlier hero—was shown a red card for a professional foul on Haaland during the buildup.

The win completed City’s first league double over Liverpool since 1937.

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