02/08/26 01:27:00
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02/08 13:26 CST Haaland seals dramatic 2-1 win for Man City at Liverpool to
boost Premier League title challenge
Haaland seals dramatic 2-1 win for Man City at Liverpool to boost Premier
League title challenge
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
Erling Haaland's penalty in second-half stoppage time kept Manchester City's
Premier League title challenge alive on Sunday with a 2-1 win against Liverpool.
Haaland's spot kick sealed a comeback victory for Pep Guardiola's team in an
explosive game at Anfield and cut the gap on first-place Arsenal back to six
points.
City's title prospects looked in dire shape when Dominik Szoboszlai crashed a
stunning long-range free kick in off the post in the 74th minute. And even when
Bernardo Silva equalized 10 minutes later, second-place 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 after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes
in the box.
"I was really nervous right beforehand. All my thoughts were getting in the
back of the net," Haaland told Sky Sports. "Incredible feeling."
Even after Haaland's goal there was still time for more drama. City goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a spectacular save to push Alexis Mac Allister's
shot away from the top corner.
And City 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 makes statement of title intent
City had won just one of its last 23 visits to Anfield. For 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.
"Coming here to Anfield is always, for me, it's the toughest place in the
Premier League by far," said Bernardo. "When I scored, I was quite happy,
obviously because we were back in the game, but we needed another one and
Erling got us that one."
Arsenal had opened up a nine-point lead at the top on Saturday.
But the gap could be three points by the time Mikel Arteta's team visits
Brentford on Thursday, with City at home to Fulham a day earlier.
Palace wins at last
Crystal Palace ended a 12-game winless run in all competitions by beating rival
Brighton 1-0.
Ismaila Sarr scored the only goal of the match at the Amex Stadium to move
Palace nine points clear of the relegation zone and leapfrog Brighton into 13th
place.
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere and what a way to start my Palace career, a
win in a derby," said Palace's record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, who joined
from Wolves on deadline day. "It was really important to win as there has been
a run without wins before I joined.
"This is the most intense game I have ever played so I'm tired now, but it is
worth it."
Sarr's winner came after running through in the 61st minute and firing past
goalkeeper Bart Verburggen. It was his second goal in as many games and his
10th of the season.
Palace's last win in any competition was against Shelbourne in the Conference
League on Dec. 11.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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