Liverpool v Man City live: Pundits react after bizarre Dominik Szoboszlai red card in Premier League clash

City beat Liverpool to stay within touching distance of league leaders Arsenal

Slot angered and disappointed as late goals see Man City beat Liverpool

Manchester City pulled off a dramatic late comeback to beat Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield and keep their title ambitions alive.

Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning free-kick to give Liverpool the lead, but Bernardo Silva poached an equaliser before Erling Haaland converted a late penalty to settle the game.

Rayan Cherki thought he had scored a bizarre late, late third to cap a wild game with Alisson Becker well out of his area – only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR, which led to Szoboszlai being sent off instead.

Follow all the latest reaction from Anfield below:

Liverpool vs Manchester City live

• Liverpool host Man City in the Premier League on Sunday | Live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
• 90 +10' DISALLOWED GOAL! Cherki scores from halfway but VAR overrule [LIV 1-2 MCI]
• 90 +3' GOAL! Haaland scores from the spot [LIV 1-2 MCI]
• 84' GOAL! Silva scores late equaliser [LIV 1-1 MCI]
• 74' GOAL! Szoboszlai scores stunning free-kick [LIV 1-0 MCI]

[8 February 2026 20:25 · Chris Wilson]

Pinned

Man City are breathing down Arsenal’s necks after frenzy and farce in rare win over Liverpool at Anfield

A farcical finish, but a fantastic win for Pep Guardiola. He had waited a decade to taste victory at a full Anfield. When he did, with a comeback for the ages, seemingly capped by a goal from the halfway line into an empty net, pernickety officiating injected an element of absurd with a decision that no one wanted or needed.

And yet the overall outcome was the same. As Liverpool led, it felt as though Arsenal were about to be anointed champions. “The whole team knew before the game if we lost it then the title race was probably over,” said Bernardo Silva. Instead, he helped revive it. Erling Haaland, policed well by Virgil van Dijk, enduring a frustrating afternoon, suddenly turned catalyst. A manager who had visited Anfield 10 previous times, winning only in lockdown, got the triumph that had always eluded him. “It is so difficult,” sighed Guardiola. “Anfield is Anfield: the tradition, the history, the crowd.”

[9 February 2026 07:00 · Chris Wilson]

How many games is Dominik Szoboszlai suspended for after red card against Manchester City?

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will be suspended for just one match after his red card against Manchester City, with the Hungarian avoiding a three-game ban due to a specific rule.

Szoboszlai was shown a straight red card in the final minutes of Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 loss to City at Anfield on Sunday, with the Hungarian dragging back Erling Haaland when the Norwegian was running through to tap in to an empty net.

[9 February 2026 06:00 · Chris Wilson]

Why was Dominik Szoboszlai sent off? VAR controversy explained as Man City goal ruled out in win over Liverpool

Manchester City’s crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool ended in bizarre scenes at Anfield as Dominik Szoboszlai was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity – despite City scoring a goal from that opportunity.

Szoboszlai had earlier scored a stunning free-kick to give Liverpool the lead, before Bernardo Silva poached an equaliser and Erling Haaland converted a late penalty to give City the advantage in added time.

Rayan Cherki thought he had scored a bizarre late, late third to cap a wild game, shooting from the halfway line with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker well out of his area – only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review, which led to Szoboszlai being sent off instead.

[9 February 2026 05:00 · Chris Wilson]

Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland have same reaction to Dominik Szoboszlai’s bizarre red card after City beat Liverpool

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and match-winner Erling Haaland said they did not want to see Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai sent off in their 2-1 victory at Anfield.

Guardiola called for “common sense” after Liverpool goalscorer Szoboszlai was dismissed in the 103rd minute for denying City a goalscoring opportunity – even as the ball went into the goal.

Rayan Cherki had an injury-time strike disallowed after finding the net from the half-way line as Szoboszlai and Haaland chased the shot, with first the Hungarian fouling the Norwegian and then the City striker tugging back the Liverpool right-back, but with neither making contact with the ball.

[9 February 2026 04:00 · Chris Wilson]

Midweek Premier League fixtures

The next round of Premier League fixtures takes place this week, so here’s a list of the midweek games:

Tuesday, 10 February

Tottenham vs Newcastle - 7.30pm

Chelsea vs Leeds - 7.30pm

Everton vs Bournemouth - 7.30pm

West Ham vs Man Utd - 8.15pm

Wednesday, 11 February

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves - 7.30pm

Aston Villa vs Brighton - 7.30pm

Crystal Palace vs Burnley - 7.30pm

Man City vs Fulham - 7.30pm

Thursday, 12 February

Brentford vs Arsenal - 8pm

[9 February 2026 03:00 · Chris Wilson]

Premier League table

Here’s how the top of the Premier League table looks at the start of a new week!

[9 February 2026 02:00 · Chris Wilson]

Watch City's goals

Here are the highlights for both of City’s goals:

[9 February 2026 01:00 · Chris Wilson]

Pundits: Carabao Cup final has important in title race

[9 February 2026 00:00 · Chris Wilson]

Pundits criticise Liverpool

Here’s what the pundits had to say on Sky regarding a mixed Liverpool performance:

[8 February 2026 23:00 · Chris Wilson]

Slot reacts on Sky

Here’s what Arne Slot said on Sky after the final whistle: