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Manchester City continued their pursuit of Arsenal in the Premier League title race after staging a dramatic late comeback against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The reigning champions secured a crucial 2-1 victory in stoppage time, overturning a deficit in the closing stages of their Match Week 25 encounter to keep pressure on the league leaders.
Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool the lead in the 74th minute before Bernardo Silva equalized for Manchester City in the 84th minute. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland then completed the comeback by converting a penalty in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, securing all three points for the visitors. Liverpool finished the match with ten men after Szoboszlai received a red card in the 12th minute of added time.
Manchester City Close Gap in Premier League Title Race
The victory proved significant for Manchester City’s championship ambitions, bringing their points total to 50 and reducing the gap behind league leaders Arsenal to just four points. With 13 matches remaining in the season, the defending champions have positioned themselves firmly in the title conversation. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s tally remained at 39 points, leaving them in sixth place in the standings.
Haaland Breaks Anfield Drought
According to match reports, the winning goal marked a personal milestone for Haaland, representing his first goal at Anfield wearing the Manchester City shirt. The penalty came at a crucial moment as City pushed for a winner against their traditional rivals. The Norwegian striker’s late intervention demonstrated the clinical finishing that has defined his time in English football.
However, the match remained tightly contested throughout, with Liverpool creating opportunities despite ultimately falling short. The home side appeared poised to claim a valuable three points after Szoboszlai’s breakthrough goal with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation time. Silva’s equalizer shifted momentum back toward the visitors during the final stages.
Implications for Championship Race
The result carries significant implications for the Premier League title race as the season enters its final stretch. Manchester City’s ability to overturn deficits in hostile environments has historically been a hallmark of their successful campaigns under manager Pep Guardiola. Additionally, collecting maximum points from difficult away fixtures will prove essential as they attempt to close the gap on Arsenal.
In contrast, Liverpool’s defeat represents a setback in their efforts to secure European qualification through league position. The Merseyside club had been seeking to build momentum and climb the table after an inconsistent campaign by their recent standards. The loss of Szoboszlai to a red card in the closing moments compounded their disappointment and will result in his absence for their upcoming fixture.
Arsenal maintains their advantage at the Premier League summit despite City’s victory, though the margin has narrowed considerably. The North London side will need to maintain consistent form over the remaining 13 match weeks to hold off the defending champions. City’s experience in navigating tight title races may prove advantageous as pressure intensifies during the run-in period.
Both Manchester City and Arsenal will face crucial fixtures in the coming weeks that could determine the destination of the Premier League trophy. City’s next matches will test whether they can maintain their winning momentum and continue applying pressure on the leaders, while Liverpool must regroup quickly to salvage their season objectives.
