Haaland on the spot to seal rare Anfield win for Man City

Erling Haaland kept Manchester City's Premier League title hopes alive with a dramatic late penalty at Liverpool.

The Norwegian struck in second-half stoppage time in an explosive game at Anfield on Sunday to seal a 2-1 win and cut the gap with first-placed Arsenal back to six points.

City's title prospects looked in dire shape when Dominik Szoboszlai crashed a stunning long-range freekick in off the post in the 74th minute. And even when Bernardo Silva equalized 10 minutes later, second-placed City was still looking at ending the match eight points adrift.

But, Haaland sent the away fans wild by firing into the bottom corner from the spot in the 93rd minute after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes in the box.

"I was really nervous right beforehand. All my thoughts were getting it in the back of the net," Haaland told Sky Sports. "Incredible feeling."

Even after Haaland's goal, the drama was far from over.

City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a spectacular save to push Alexis Mac Allister's shot away from the top corner.

And then substitute Rayan Cherki scored from the halfway line — only for VAR to overrule it and send off Szoboszlai for a foul on Haaland before the ball crossed the line.

City had won just one game in its last 23 visits to Anfield. For Pep Guardiola, the record was one win in 10 since arriving in England in 2016.

And, even then, that victory came in a behind-closed-doors game during the COVID pandemic in 2021.

It is the first time City has completed a league double over Liverpool since 1936-37.

"It's special. It's an incredibly difficult place to come," Guardiola said.

Arsenal had opened up a nine-point lead at the top with its win over Sunderland on Saturday.

But the gap could be three points by the time Mikel Arteta's team visits Brentford on Thursday, with City set to host Fulham on Wednesday.

It is a very different scenario to the one City faced after Szoboszlai's freekick that left Donnarumma standing as it swerved in off the post.

'We need to believe'

Haaland, who had missed a one-on-one early in the match, flicked a header on for Silva to slide in and poke past Alisson for the equalizer.

Alisson was then guilty of a rash moment, rushing out and bringing down Nunes. With the pressure on, Haaland swept the resultant spotkick low and into the bottom corner.

Haaland said the result needed to be the start of a determined drive toward the title.

"We need to believe, and we need to get it straight. We need to start winning games," he said.

"In the end this is what matters. We need to start winning games -simple as that."

Donnarumma was left as a spectator for Szoboszlai's freekick, but he produced a crucial moment to push away Mac Allister's deflected shot that was dipping into the top corner.

Even more dramatic was Cherki's shot from the halfway line that rolled into an empty net after Alisson had gone up for a corner.

The celebrations were cut short after referee Craig Pawson reviewed the sideline monitor.

The goal was ruled out because Szoboszlai fouled Haaland as the Norwegian chased the ball. Although the official had initially played the advantage, Haaland then fouled Szoboszlai and prevented him from making a clearance.

Pawson then issued a red card for the initial foul, which was adjudged to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

'It's disappointing'

Champion last year, Liverpool's title defense unraveled long before Christmas.

Now, it faces a fight to secure Champions League qualification.

A top-five finish is likely to be enough to qualify for European club soccer's top competition, but Arne Slot's team is sixth and four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.

"For us, it is disappointing to come away without a result," Slot said. "So many times this season we haven't got what I think we deserved, and this is another game to add to that."

Slot insisted that his side is improving, even if results do not show it.

"You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago. We have improved so much, but we need to improve the results," said Slot.