Manchester City 2 (Bernardo Silva 84′, Erling Haaland 90+3 (P))
Liverpool 1 (Domink Szoboslai 74′)
Here are the Manchester City player ratings as they came from a goal down to beat Liverpool 2-1 today at Anfield. Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool the lead in the 74th minute with what can only be described as a wonder goal. But that goal didn’t knock the stuffing out of Pep Guardiola’s side. City fought back, and an equalizer from Bernardo Silva gave City a lifeline in the 84th minute. They took it as City won a penalty in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Erling Haaland calmly dispatched the penalty to give City a famous 2-1 win. Manchester City also picked up a precious three points, and today’s result could mean so much to Pep Guardiola’s side.
When the starting lineups were announced, Bernardo Silva returned to the starting eleven for Pep Guardiola’s side after missing Manchester City’s win over Newcastle due to injury. Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo started up front as Pep Guardiola set out his team to get at Liverpool in a game City had to win.
First half.
There was a lively start to the match, and Manchester City should have taken the lead inside the opening 90 seconds. Bernardo Silva won the ball in midfield and drove at the Liverpool defence. The City captain slipped in Erling Haaland, who got a right-footed strike on goal which Alisson saved. Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez did well to put pressure on Haaland, but you did feel that Haaland should have done better with the chance on offer.
As the game entered the 15th minute, the tempo of the match seemed set. Pep Guardiola’s side was looking to keep possession and get in behind the Liverpool defence when the opportunity presented itself. Liverpool was eager to press City when they had possession, especially in defense. Arne Slot’s side had several promising moments with their press, but City played themselves out of trouble in the game’s early stages.
Manchester City were dominating possession to begin the game.
After 25 minutes, Manchester City had clearly dominated the match. Pep Guardiola’s side were dominating possession and had pinned Liverpool deep in their own half. City hadn’t created any significant chances but they were asking questions of Arne Slot’s side.
After Liverpool had their best spell of the game in terms of possession between the 25th and 34th minutes, Erling Haaland hit a shot straight at Alisson after a Rodri cross from the right to the back post. There was a great tempo to the match as both teams were determined to impose their will on their opponent.
At the interval, the score was nil-all. Manchester City had been the better team, and their performance did warrant Pep Guardiola’s side having the lead. They were confident in possession and had created several chances, although it would be fair to say that City hadn’t created any truly significant chances. Liverpool’s best moments came when they pressed City deep in their own half. At halftime, the game was level, and it would be interesting to see if Pep Guardiola’s side could maintain their level of performance after halftime.
HT: Liverpool 0-0 Man City
Liverpool are yet to register a shot on target. ❌#LIVMCI | @bet365 | #Ad pic.twitter.com/n7WfhgVn0u
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 8, 2026
Second half.
There was a lively beginning to the second half as Mo Salah saw a shot blocked from a good position in the City penalty area, and Antoine Semenyo almost played in Omar Marmoush with a sublime cross-field ball that Liverpool keeper Alisson cut out. If the opening moments of the second half were any indication of what lay ahead, both teams were going to go for it in an attempt to pick up three points.
Liverpool had their first shot on target in the 51st minute. A poor clearance from Rayan Ait-Nouri was played to Dominik Szoboszlai by Mo Salah, and Szoboszlai fired a powerful strike straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma. A minute later, Rodri was dispossessed on the edge of his own area, and the ball was worked to Hugo Ekitike in a good position in the City area. The French international curled an effort inches wide of the far post with Donnarumma stranded. Liverpool were upping the ante as Manchester City couldn’t get out of their own half.
Both teams have their chances as the game goes up a gear.
Antoine Semenyo fired a shot straight at Alisson in the 55th minute. A determined piece of play from Rayan Ait-Nouri won the ball back for City. He played the ball to Omar Marmoush, who found Semenyo on the edge of the Liverpool area, and he hit a powerful shot straight at Alisson. In response, Alisson played a long ball out which set Arne Slot’s side away. Hugo Ekitike played the ball to Mo Salah on the right, and Salah played a great ball into the box. Ekitike headed a great chance just wide with Gianluigi Donnarumma beaten.
Ruben Dias hit a powerful shot just wide in the 64th minute. Manchester City’s defensive leader was encouraged to shoot by the Liverpool defence and he hit a powerful shot just wide with Alisson struggling to get there. In response, a flowing Liverpool counter saw Hugo Ekitike tee up Florian Wirtz who saw his goal bound shot well-blocked by Marc Guehi.
A crucial final 20 minutes began with Manchester City needing to lift.
As the game entered the 70th minute, Liverpool had been the better side in the second half. Arne Slot’s side had dominated possession as City did in the first half. Pep Guardiola’s side needed to respond if they were going to leave Anfield with all three points.
Domink Szoboslai fires Liverpool into the lead.
Liverpool would take the lead in the 74th minute. The hosts won a free kick 30 yards out from goal in a central position. Up stepped Dominik Szoboszlai, who fired in an unstoppable strike at goal that left Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded. It was a superb goal from Szoboszlai, and now City had it all to do if they were to get anything out of the game.
Manchester City respond as Bernardo Silva makes it 1-all.
Bernardo Silva would make it 1-all in the 84th minute. Pep Guardiola’s side had pinned Liverpool in their own penalty area as they responded well to Dominik Szoboszlai’s rocket. Rayan Cherki played in a good cross which Erling Haaland flicked on with his head. Bernardo Silva, who was played onside by Dominik Szoboszlai, got on the end of Haaland’s flick to beat Alisson to make it 1-all. It was now game on as the game entered its closing stages.
🚨🏴 BERNARDO SILVA HAS EQUALIZED FOR MANCHESTER CITY!
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City.pic.twitter.com/y2DSzlLuBa
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 8, 2026
Erling Haaland gives City the lead!!!!
Manchester City were awarded a penalty in the first minute of second half stoppage time. A simple ball over the top of the Liverpool defence played in Matheus Nunes. Nunes knocked the ball past Alisson who clattered Nunes and the referee gave a penalty. It was a clear penalty and up stepped Erling Haaland to take to spot kick. Haaland beat Alisson with a cool and composed penalty to give Manchester City a 2-1 lead.
🚨🏴 HAALAND HAS GIVEN MANCHESTER CITY THE LEAD IN THE 93RD MNUTE!
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City.pic.twitter.com/wjlAGQhVPK
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 8, 2026
Rayan Ait-Nouri would see a shot saved by Alisson in the 96th minute. The Manchester City left-back surged at the Liverpool defence and worked himself into a good position. Ait-Nouri fired a powerful shot straight at Alisson which the Brazilian keeper saved.
Gianluigi Donnarumma would make a superb save in the 98th minute to deny Alexis MacAllister. MacAllister hit a powerful strike at shot that took a wicked deflection which Donnarumma saved at full stretch to his right. It was a superb save and showed why City were so keen to sign Donnarumma. He was brought for moments like this and that save was crucial.
Rayan Cherki seals a famous City win until VAR intervenes.
It seemed that Rayan Cherki had sealed the win for Manchester City. With Alisson up field, Cherki played a ball at goal that rolled in to seemingly give City a 3-1 lead. In the process of the ball rolling into the net, Dominik Szoboszlai pulled back Erling Haaland who would have tapped in to an empty net. Haaland pulled responded by pulling back Szoboszlai before the ball crossed the line. If anything sums up VAR, it’s this passage of play. Dominik Szoboszlai was sent off for his challenge on Haaland as he denied a clear goal scoring opportunity. The funny part of it all was Szoboszlai claiming Haaland had fouled him when the ball crossed the line, ignoringhis own foul on Haaland. It was a farcical situation but Cherki’s goal was ruled out.
That moment would be the final moment of the match. Manchester City had beaten Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield. Pep Guardiola’s side had fought back from a goal down to pick up a massive three points. More than that, today’s win could be a key moment in the growth of this new-look Manchester City side. They had gone to Anfield and won, and that could be massive in this team’s development.
City player ratings.
Gianluigi Donnarumma-8/10: Donnarumma could do little about Szoboszlai’s goal. His save from Alexis MacAllister’s late deflected shot was priceless and a significant moment in his team’s win.
Matheus Nunes-7.5/10: A tidy performance again from Nunes. He defended well and won the penalty that Haaland converted to win the match.
Abdukodir Khusanov-7.5/10: Substituted after an hour after sustaining a nasty head knock. I thought Khusanov was superb at the back while he was on the pitch.
Marc Guehi-8.5/10: A brilliant performance from Guehi. Made several crucial interventions defensively and he was superb for the full 90 minutes.
Rayan Ait-Nouri-7.5/10: I liked Ait-Nouri’s game. He defended well and offered a threat going forward.
Rodri-8/10: His first half was superb but he did tire in the second half. Having said that, Rodri stood up in the final 15 minutes in what was one of his better performances for the season.
Bernardo Silva-9/10: A proper captain’s display from Bernardo. He grabbed a goal and led the way for his team.
Nico O’Reilly-8.5/10: Another great performance in midfield from O’Reilly. He played an important role in Manchester City’s win.
Antoine Semenyo-6.5/10: Had his moments but his touch was just off all day.
Omar Marmoush-6.5/10: A bright and lively performance from Marmoush. His end product wasn’t quite there but Marmoush did pose the Liverpool defence problems.
Erling Haaland-8.5/10: That’s the exact performance that Haaland needed. He set up Bernardo’s equalizer and dispatched his penalty with ease. He never stopped working for 90 minutes and got his reward.
Substitutes.
Ruben Dias-6.5/10: Added composure and leadership at the back after replacing Khusanov.
Rayan Cherki-7/10: It was Cherki’s cross that set up Bernardo Silva’s equalizer. He was good after coming on and was more than up for the game.
Nathan Ake-N/A: -Not on long enough to mark.