Liverpool vs Man City: Waiting for Haaland to break the jinx

Striker E. Haaland has never scored against Liverpool when playing for Man City at Anfield. Will this "jinx" be broken when the two teams meet again on the night of February 8th?

Người Lao Động•07/02/2026

With the Premier League season so unpredictable, all doors are ready to slam shut for the underdogs, and the title race has officially begun. Neither Liverpool nor Man City can afford to slip up at this crucial moment, as Arsenal, sitting back and watching the fight unfold, could well pull away from the pack.

Worried about Man City

The "Super Sunday" match of round 25 seems to have come at an inopportune time for both English giants. Man City are four places above Liverpool with eight more points, but their form is not as consistent as it has been in previous seasons.

Liverpool - Man City: Chờ Haaland — Haaland has yet to score against Liverpool when playing for Man City at Anfield in the Premier League. (Photo: AP)

Pep Guardiola's side have dropped points in five of their last six Premier League matches, including a 2-2 draw against Tottenham despite leading by two goals. These consecutive slip-ups are putting increasing pressure on Man City.

The worrying issue for Pep Guardiola's team lies in their away form. In their last three away games, they have failed to win and conceded at least two goals in each match. The defensive system, which was the foundation of their strong run last season, is revealing several critical weaknesses, especially with a number of key players either injured or not yet in top form, despite the addition of new signing M. Guehi. They recently overcame Newcastle to reach the League Cup final, but signs of fatigue and instability remain evident.

Man City still possesses a weapon that no opponent dares to underestimate: they are the highest-scoring team in the league with an average of two goals per game. Erling Haaland continues to lead the scoring charts. However, he has yet to shine at the home ground of the reigning champions.

The Norwegian "goal-scoring machine" has been goalless in all three of his away matches against Liverpool in the Premier League. Anfield is also one of only two stadiums in the Premier League where he has played but never scored a goal, alongside Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Haaland had to accept coming on as a substitute against Newcastle, replacing Antoine Semenyo – a player who is no stranger to scoring at Anfield. The winger, who has bagged four goals in six appearances for Man City, had previously scored a brace for Bournemouth in their 2-4 defeat to Liverpool in the opening match of the season.

Will Salah make a difference?

On the other side of the pitch, Liverpool are not much better in terms of points, but they pose a different kind of threat. Arne Slot's team is undergoing a clear transformation, constantly adding expensive new signings and adjusting their playing style.

Liverpool's recent run of results hasn't been particularly impressive, with many draws and few wins, causing them to drop out of the top positions. However, the Anfield side still retains a crucial quality: their ability to react. Since the start of the 2024-2025 season, "The Kop" has been among the teams that have earned the most points in matches where they were trailing, demonstrating their resilience and ability to adjust to the game.

Liverpool's attacking prowess has also shown signs of resurgence. They've scored countless goals across all competitions, with the Salah-Wirtz-Ekitike trio creating numerous attacking options. Florian Wirtz has consistently contributed goals and assists, becoming the team's most creative player. Ekitike brings speed and movement that breaks down defensive structures.

Salah's experience on the battlefield makes him a key factor in the upcoming match. Manchester City is one of the opponents against whom Salah has scored the most goals in his career, with 13 goals. His instinct for positioning and ball control could still help the "Egyptian King" make a difference in a decisive moment.

If it's a draw, both teams will be left far behind by Arsenal.

Recent head-to-head history also shows that matches between the two teams are usually not too one-sided. Most encounters have seen two or more goals, a high tempo, and many back-and-forth exchanges. Liverpool also have the significant advantage of playing in the Anfield stands, a venue that has been a source of considerable anxiety for Man City in recent seasons.

A draw might not be a disaster in terms of points, but it would be a bad result for both sides in the title race. With Arsenal holding the advantage and capable of further widening the gap, both Liverpool and Man City understand that sharing points would mean making things difficult for themselves.