Liverpool

With Alisson marooned upfield for a set-piece as Liverpool searched for a late equaliser, Rayan Cherki kicked the ball towards an empty net.

Haaland gave chase and was clearly going to outpace Dominik Szoboszlai.

The City striker had overtaken Szoboszlai 25 yards from goal and looked certain to win the race – but he was pulled back.

It was a clear foul which referee Craig Pawson identified, but he played an advantage.

As the ball rolled towards the goal with the same two players still jostling to reach it, Liverpool‘s Hungary international was about to slide in and clear it off the line.

Before Szoboszlai could do so, however, Haaland pulled him back, and that stopped the home player from keeping the ball out of the net.

The first pull on Haaland muddies the waters. After all, it seemed Haaland was definitely going to score.

But they are two distinct situations. You have to separate the first foul by Szoboszlai and the subsequent offence from Haaland.

Would Szoboszlai have prevented the goal had he not been fouled? There is a high chance.

On that basis it is impossible for the goal to stand.

Remember that Pawson played advantage. Had Szoboszlai been allowed to successfully keep the ball out, the play would have been brought back and he would have been sent off.

The end result would be the same as the outcome of the VAR intervention: no goal and Szoboszlai sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

If you take out the first pull on Haaland, it is hard to see how anyone could have a problem with the goal being disallowed.

This is not the first time, or the last, that the VAR has correctly disallowed a goal and people really struggle to stomach it.

Yes, the goal could be important for Manchester City at the end of the season. But the goal conceded could also turn out to be vital for Liverpool.

Erling Haaland’s 93rd-minute penalty gives Manchester City a crucial comeback win over Liverpool, who end the game with 10 men as Dominik Szoboszlai is sent off in stoppage time at Anfield.

MATCH REPORT: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City

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Erling Haaland’s penalty in second-half stoppage time kept Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge alive with a chaotic 2-1 win away at Liverpool.

Haaland’s spot kick sealed a comeback victory for Pep Guardiola’s team in an explosive football game at Anfield on Sunday and brought 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 equalised 10 minutes later, second-place City was still looking at ending the match eight points adrift of the leader.

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.

Then City substitute Rayan Cherki scored from the halfway line – only for VAR to overrule it and send off Szoboszlai for a foul on Haaland in the process of the ball crossing the line.

These two clubs have combined to win the last eight titles in English football’s Premier League. But both showed the flaws that have opened the door for Arsenal to potentially end their long wait to be crowned champions once again.

Haaland has scored just once from open play in his last 13 games, and an uncharacteristic lack of confidence from the Norwegian showed with the best chance of the first half inside the opening two minutes.

Silva’s clever pass split the Liverpool defence, but Haaland’s shot lacked conviction under pressure from Milos Kerkez, and Alisson Becker was able to save low to his left.

Haaland hooked another effort straight at Alisson among 10 first-half City attempts without a breakthrough.

Second-half slumps have been a consistent feature of City’s season, and the visitors again faded in the second period until a late flurry saved their title challenge.

Hugo Ekitike should have opened the scoring when he completely miscued his header just before the hour mark after a lightning-fast Liverpool break.

Marc Guehi was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card when he dragged down Mo Salah just outside the box.

But it was City who were left fuming at the award of the free kick that led to the opener when Ryan Gravenberch went down under minimal contact.

Szoboszlai scored the only goal with an outrageous free kick when Arsenal visited Anfield in August and produced another stunning strike that clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.

However, the Hungarian went from hero to villain when City levelled six minutes from time.

Szoboszlai played Silva onside as he slid in to volley home Haaland’s header for City’s first second-half goal in the Premier League this year.

Alisson then wiped out Matheus Nunes to concede a penalty and Haaland kept his cool from the spot to put City in front.

Pep Guardiola’s men still needed a stunning save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip behind Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot.

With Alisson remaining forward from the resulting corner, the Liverpool goal was open when Cherki took aim from the halfway line to roll the ball into an empty net.

However, Haaland and Szoboszlai’s grappling as the ball trickled towards the goal saw the strike ruled out, with a free kick awarded to City instead, and the Liverpool player given his marching orders.

Silva, who was named player of the match, told Sky Sports that it was a vital win for City.

“I feel the whole team knew before the game if we lost it then the title race was probably over. We felt like we needed to win,” he said.

“The hope is there, and we are going to fight until the end. We need to keep doing our job that we haven’t lately.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he was disappointed not to come away with a result and claimed that several key decisions had gone against his side.

“You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago. We have improved so much – but we need to improve the results,” he told Sky.

“So many times this year we haven’t got what I think we deserve, and this is another time.”

Palace end dire run at Brighton

Earlier on Sunday, 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.

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the football match as Liverpool host City for a crunch game at Anfield.

Liverpool signing Jeremy Jacquet faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury playing for Rennes.

The 20-year-old French defender, who agreed a £60m move to Anfield last week, is set to join at the end of the season.

He fell awkwardly in the second half of Rennes’ 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat at Lens on Saturday, when defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal also suffered a muscular injury.

Rennes manager Habib Beye said: “It’s definitely quite serious for both of them.”

Who: Liverpool vs Manchester City
What: English Premier League
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, UK
When: Sunday at 4:30pm (16:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 13:30 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Liverpool host City for a match with huge ramifications for the title race and the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

City trail leaders Arsenal by six points and could find themselves nine adrift by the time they kick off, with the Gunners hosting Sunderland on Saturday.

Liverpool could also be four points outside the top five, which should secure a place in the Champions League, should Manchester United and Chelsea win on Saturday.

The champions head into the weekend in sixth place on 39 points but in high spirits after a commanding 4-1 win over Newcastle United last weekend, while ⁠City dropped points against 14th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw.

Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, two of Liverpool’s big-money summer signings, are beginning to deliver returns. Ekitike scored twice in the win over Newcastle to take his tally for the season to 15, while Wirtz has netted six times in 10 matches since ending a 22-game wait for his first Liverpool goal.

City’s Erling Haaland, meanwhile, is experiencing an unusual lean spell with just two goals in his last 12 games. He has never scored for City at Anfield.

Slot targets improved display against City

Liverpool are eager to ‌showcase how far they have progressed after losing 3-0 to City in November, manager Arne Slot said on Thursday.

“I mainly remember the game we played at Etihad, and we were outplayed for large parts in the first half,” Slot told reporters.

“So, this is another moment to see where we are in the development of this team. We know the importance of ⁠a result.”

Liverpool have endured a difficult season so far, but have regained some measure of form in recent weeks.

“It’s the end phase of the season, so results matter more,” Slot said.

“We have not found the consistency for the results, but we have shown against ‌all the [teams], that we can compete.”

Liverpool know there has to be ‘life after Virgil’

Slot also explained the club’s decision to recruit four central defenders during the winter transfer window – Jeremy Jacquet, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya – describing it as planning ‌for life after captain and star centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who will turn 35 this year.

“Hopefully, Virgil can stay fit for multiple years, but this club is not stupid,” Slot said.

“We do know, somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life after Virgil, but that is for every position. We don’t think about short term only.”

Slot singled out the Jacquet for extra praise. The France under-21s defender was also linked with Chelsea, but will move to Anfield in July after Liverpool agreed to a big-money deal to sign him from Rennes, where he will finish the season.

“Such a big talent and another example of the model we’re using at this club,” Slot said.

“Young, very talented players, sometimes at the start of their careers or sometimes already a little bit a few years into their career, but always players that are young and can improve us in the short term but also definitely in the long term.”

Guardiola emphasises mental fortitude ahead of tough trip

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said ‌mental strength separates elite players from the rest as his team prepares for the game against Liverpool.

“The biggest stages and the biggest games always need big personalities,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“I have said many times, it’s not about the skills of the players in the top leagues. In ⁠the top clubs, the skills are there. I never know one player that is not good enough to play in the top clubs, it is how you behave.

“How you play in the latter stages of the biggest competitions is what defines you as a player. The mind of the players you have defines the big teams.”

Guardiola said that despite their travails this season, playing Liverpool at Anfield is still one of the toughest away fixtures in football.

“They remain an exceptional team,” he said. “Top-class manager and an exceptional team, no doubt.”

City boss lauds Haaland as ‘world’s best striker’ but won’t confirm Liverpool start

Guardiola insisted Haaland is the “best striker in the world” despite refusing to confirm if the misfiring City star will start Sunday’s crucial clash.

“I don’t know until tomorrow. But all I say is Erling is the best. Erling is the best striker in the world,” Guardiola told reporters.

The 55-year-old also doubled down on his comments about the “hurt” he feels for victims of conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan after Jewish community leaders told him to “focus on football”.

“To be honest, I didn’t say anything special. I think, why should I not express how I feel just because I am a manager? So I do not agree, but I respect absolutely all opinions,” he said.

“What I said basically is how many conflicts there are right now around the globe or around the world. How many? A lot, right? I condemn all of them. All of them.”

Head-to-head

The two clubs have faced each other on 219 occasions, with Liverpool winning 110 of those games, City winning 61, and 58 ending as draws.

While City comfortably won their home league game against Liverpool this season, their only victory away to Liverpool since 2003 came in an empty stadium during COVID restrictions in 2021.

Liverpool’s team news

Slot confirmed that defender Jeremie Frimpong will miss the game, ‌but Joe Gomez could return to the squad to bolster the defensive ⁠line.

Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to continue deputising for Frimpong at right-back.

Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni all remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries.

Predicted lineup:

Alisson (GK); Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

City’s team news

City could be without Bernardo Silva, who has a back issue, so Nico O’Reilly could move into midfield to replace him.

Ruben Dias has returned from injury but likely lacks full match fitness and sharpness, so Abdukodir Khusanov will likely start in the centre of defence alongside new signing Marc Guehi.

Predicted lineup:

Donnarumma (GK); Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Foden, Cherki; Haaland

The town’s position in the top spot comes at the expense of the well-heeled Cheltenham down in Gloucestershire, in second place, and Ipswich in Suffolk in third, and Rochdale, Greater Manchester in fourth

A North West town has been crowned the best the country has to offer.

It’s fair to say that Liverpool and Manchester steal the bulk of the limelight when it comes to settlements in the 9 to 12 o’clock quadrant of England, and for good reason. But when it comes to the best large towns (crucially, not cities) in not just the North West, but the country at large, there is only one winner.

“The town evolved out of an unplanned sell-off of land by various lords of the manor, and was destined to be chaotic. The Golden Mile and Pleasure Beach are latter-day versions of the free-for-all fête that once took over the strand,” writes Chris Moss on his number one pick.

“As the new Showtown museum reveals, the modern seaside mass-market holiday was invented here, as was much of the light entertainment and comedy that dominated the small screen for decades. You can eat well (the Wok Inn is superb), drink well and party well here but neither the prom in a gale nor the back streets after dark are for the faint-hearted. It’s a UK one-off. An obligatory stop once every decade if you want to know your nation and yourself.”

Do you agree with the rankings? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing webtravel@reachplc.com

READ MORE: UK’s worst towns for 2026 as tourists slam concrete centres and humdrum atmosphereREAD MORE: Spain holiday warning for Brits after major clampdown this week

Chris’s choice is, of course, Blackpool. He scored the iconic Lancashire seaside resort 9.5/10 in an article that looked at possible contenders for the 2028 UK Town of Culture, following Bradford’s successful run in 2025.

Blackpool’s position in the top spot comes at the expense of the well-heeled Cheltenham down in Gloucestershire, in second place, and Ipswich in Suffolk in third, and Rochdale, Greater Manchester in fourth.

Those who live in and love Blackpool, or who have spent summer days in the seaside resort, will need no reminding why the town of 141,000 deserves the top spot. But for those who have yet to make it to the Las Vegas of North England, here is a brief rundown of its history, what it offers now, and why, arguably, its number one ranking is a bit of a surprise.

The history

Until the mid-eighteenth century, Blackpool was a tiny, largely overlooked hamlet that sat on the Irish Sea. It would only become a fashionable destination later in the 1700s, when visitors began heading there to dip in the sea – something few considered a pleasant pastime prior to this wellness kick.

Several hotels popped up to cater to the increase in visitor numbers by 1781, before the railway reached the town in 1846. Throughout the nineteenth century, Blackpool grew in size from a small town to a major seaside resort as trainloads of sunseekers bused in to enjoy the sea air. Its three piers and many of the current attractions, such as the Blackpool Tower, would open by the end of the century.

By the middle of the twentieth century, the population of Blackpool reached 147,000, considerably higher than it is today.

What to do

Since the coronavirus pandemic, when domestic holidays enjoyed a real boost in the UK, Blackpool has been thriving. The figures for 2023 show the seaside resort attracted 21.5m tourists – a 6% increase compared to 2022 when the total was 20.3m. The annual STEAM report showed the number of full-time tourism and hospitality jobs supported in Blackpool has grown to 23,419 – a 5.3% rise on the previous year.

It’s clear to see why. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, SEALIFE Blackpool and the Blackpool Illuminations remain major attractions that draw in huge numbers each year.

The town is also known for its nightlife and as an increasingly popular hen and stag do destination, thanks to excellent pubs such as the Cask and Tap, Rhythm and Brew Room, and Shickers Tavern, and the fact that it’s still possible to get a decent round for £20, with change to spare.

A bit of a surprise

For all of its charms, Blackpool has some difficulties. Since the rise of the low-cost foreign holidays in the late 20th century, the North West jewel has been shining a little less as it struggles to compete with the sun and sand on offer on the Continent.

Blackpool faces significant, entrenched socioeconomic struggles, and consistently ranks as one of the most deprived local authorities in England. It has high rates of poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes. The town also deals with a seasonal, low-wage economy, poor housing, and high crime rates.

The full list

25. Watford – 0.5/1024. Crawley – 0.5/1023. Luton – 1/1022. Oldham – 1.5/1021. Basildon – 2/1020. Basingstoke – 2/1019. Telford – 2.5/1018. Middlesbrough – 2.5/1017. Northampton – 3/1016. Slough – 3.5/1015. Reading – 4/1014. Swindon – 4.5/1013. Warrington – 5/1012. Huddersfield – 5.5/1011. Bolton – 6/1010. Blackburn – 6/109. Stockport – 6.5/108. Poole – 6.5/107. Bournemouth – 7/106. Worthing – 7/105. Gateshead – 7.5/104. Rochdale – 8/103. Ipswich – 8.5/102. Cheltenham – 9/101. Blackpool – 9.5/10

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher says the death of Diogo Jota means performances and results at his old club are not quite as important this season.

Portuguese winger Jota died in a car crash last summer at the age of 28.

Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds, helping them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 and the Premier League title last season.

Liverpool are currently sixth in the Premier League – 14 points behind table-topping Arsenal – in what has been a testing season for the club on the pitch.

Republic of Ireland international Kelleher, who left Liverpool for Brentford last June, touched on the emotional impact of Jota’s death in an interview with The Independent., external

The 27-year-old said that for his former club it was “more about them personally and mentally” than anything else this season.

“Obviously, football is a massive sport and people have an opinion, which is natural. People expect you to move on quite quickly, and I don’t think that’s the case,” Kelleher said.

“I find it a bit strange and a bit difficult when I hear people speaking about the players at Liverpool and the performances, because I don’t think this season is even important from a football aspect for them.”

Last November, Reds boss Arne Slot said his side miss Jota both as a player and a person.

Those remarks came in the wake of an emotional post-match interview from Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson after Scotland had qualified for the World Cup.

Robertson said he had “been in bits” because he “couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head” in the build up to a thrilling victory over Denmark which clinched their spot at the tournament.

Kelleher, who made 67 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, having joined the club’s academy in 2015, said coming to terms with Jota’s death had been “a bit easier” since he was no longer at Anfield.

“I stay in touch with some of the guys there, I have a lot of good friends there. It’s a very difficult time for them, a difficult season, with circumstances that people probably aren’t taking into account too much,” explained Kelleher.

“But it’s probably been a bit easier for me, being away from it, and not being in such close proximity to it every day.

“From an individual aspect, for me to leave and play first-team football was obviously right, never mind the tragedy that happened. “

Anfield was silenced as Anthony Gordon looked to the Kop and defiantly pointed to his ear.

The Newcastle United forward had just fired his side in front against Liverpool with a well-taken 36th-minute finish.

There was plenty of time left.

But were Liverpool about to finally lose a top-flight fixture against the visitors on their own turf for the first time since 1994?

Was the champions’ winless run in the Premier League about to extend to six games?

Not if Hugo Ekitike had anything to do with it.

The France forward dragged his side level with a poacher’s finish – then fired them in front with a quick-fire second before half-time, much to the delight of manager Arne Slot.

“The fans love him,” Slot said after his side’s 4-1 win. “From the start, everyone could see how special he is, how fast he is.”

These were the sort of finishes Newcastle‘s scouting team had seen plenty of, having tried to sign Ekitike, 23, on three separate occasions – including last summer.

Even head coach Eddie Howe could not help but hold his hands up.

“Sometimes you have to acknowledge the player against you while also acknowledging we could have defended better,” he said.

“Ekitike is an outstanding player and you saw that today. He’s got a little bit of everything and that’s his biggest strength. He’s tall, quick and he can finish.”

Kelly: What does an ideal day off look like? How do you like to escape football?

Florian: Since the summer, I like to play padel. I went a few times with some players here.

Kelly: Who plays from Liverpool?

Florian: Dominik [Szoboszlai], Milos [Kerkez]… Jeremie [Frimpong] says he’s good but I’ve not seen him.

Kelly: Are you any good?

Florian: I’m not that good. If you ask the others, I am better than Jeremie. He knows for sure I am better than him!

Kelly: What else do you like to do?

Florian: I like to have a nice breakfast. I love breakfast – scrambled eggs, pancakes… I can eat a lot. The nutritionist is very happy with me because I eat a lot of fuel for the games.

Kelly: So you have breakfast and play padel… anything else?

Florian: Maybe just chill… play PlayStation. I have a dog as well – Zoomer… but it’s not after Paw Patrol. Everyone asks me about that.

Kelly: What’s it named after then?

Florian: Just random.

Kelly: What were you like as a youngster? What kind of child was Florian Wirtz?

Florian: My parents always say I was very shy and always hiding behind my sisters. I was one of 10. I am the youngest.

Kelly: What was that like growing up?

Florian: To be honest, it’s not that bad because everyone cares about you… you are the youngest. When my parents wanted to go out, they could come and look after me. It’s nice to have so many loved ones on birthdays and Christmas.

Kelly: I’m told you are not the only footballer of your siblings…

Florian: My sister [Juliane] plays for Werder Bremen. She also played for Brauweiler, Cologne and Leverkusen. We played at the same time for three clubs.

Kelly: What was that like for you?

Florian: It was nice because sometimes we could drive together to training. I am very proud of her – she is doing good. I’m happy for her because she is having a very good season with her team.

Kelly: You are not at the same club now or even in the same country… are you still speaking about football and watching each other’s games?

Florian: My sister always wishes me good luck for the games and calls or texts me. I always try to watch her games if I can. It’s nice we have the same ambitions and the same way to think about football. I’m happy she is a footballer so we have something in common and it’s nice.

Kelly: If you could only achieve one more thing in your career, what would it be?

Florian: World champion.

Kelly: World Cup this summer?

Florian: It will be difficult, but let’s see. We all go there to win it. It will be difficult but hopefully we can go far.

Liverpool’s L1 postcode has been crowned one of the UK’s coolest areas – from street art to buzzing nightlife, here’s what makes it special

Every year, cities, towns and villages from right across Britain battle it out to claim a spot on the coveted “cool” list. Experts assess everything from culinary offerings to community spirit and outdoor access before crowning the top 10 “coolest postcodes” spanning England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This year, the Times has championed Liverpool – specifically the L1 postcode, which I proudly called home for four years.

The publication dubbed it the ultimate destination for “modern-day mop tops” pointing to Hollywood A-listers Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan, who’ve been soaking up the city’s atmosphere whilst shooting their Beatles biopic.

The Times wrote: “This L1 pocket neatly edges into the vibey Baltic Triangle, a historical area that’s now an engine room of converted warehouses, food markets and venues such as Camp and Furnace – which has hosted everyone from Mogwai to Martha Wainwright – as well as grassroots spaces like Arts Bar Baltic, a creative hub café-bar hybrid.”

Having lived slap-bang in the middle of the Baltic Triangle between 2018 and 2022, I can vouch for its magnetic pull.

Come the weekend, the area bursts into life as revellers from across Liverpool and beyond descend upon its buzzing bars, nightclubs, cafés and artistic haunts.

There’s never a dull moment – something exciting is always happening. The neighbourhood boasts four key attractions that are rapidly putting it on the map for visitors from beyond the city, reports the Express.

Street art

Every corner of the area showcases vibrant artwork that transforms urban spaces into living galleries. From tributes to the Beatles to the famous Liver bird wings, and an entire skatepark serving as a canvas for constantly evolving designs, the Baltic Triangle bursts with colour.

Visitors can stroll through what feels like an open-air exhibition of artistic expression.

Food

Hunger isn’t an option in Liverpool, particularly not in the Baltic Triangle. Central to the area is the Baltic Market, a sprawling food hall offering everything from burritos to pizza and Thai cuisine.

With vendors rotating regularly, there’s always something fresh to discover.

Nightlife

While the district buzzes during daylight hours, it truly comes alive after dark. Industrial warehouses transform into massive entertainment venues, hosting everything from DJ sets to live performances, and famously gave birth to Bongo’s Bingo.

There’s genuinely something to suit all tastes, whether it’s the Irish pub Punch Tarmey’s, Boxpark, Camp and Furnace, or neighbourhood brewery Love Lane.

Creativity

Simply passing through the Baltic Triangle can spark inspiration, thanks to the wealth of cultural happenings. The yearly Sound City music festival takes over its spaces, whilst Arts Bar Baltic regularly stages Books In Bars sessions where bibliophiles can find their next page-turner.

For those needing an energy boost, 92 Degrees Coffee and Ditto Coffee are available, alongside workspaces and conference facilities at Baltic Creative for productive sessions.