Erling Haaland Breaks Goal Drought to Lead Manchester City to First Win at Anfield in Front of Fans Since 2003

Erling Haaland has openly admitted that his recent patchy form is entirely on him, but he believes Manchester City’s thrilling victory at Anfield could provide the momentum they need to mount a serious title challenge.

The Norwegian striker’s stoppage-time penalty secured a historic win for City, their first away at Liverpool in front of fans since 2003.

The dramatic late comeback kept the gap with Premier League leaders Arsenal at just six points, giving City renewed belief as the season enters its critical stages.

A Tough Run Before the Breakthrough

Haaland has endured a frustrating spell, going nine Premier League matches without scoring from open play.

Despite this, he played a key role in City’s comeback, delivering a crucial header to assist Bernardo Silva’s equaliser before calmly converting the winning penalty.

Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, suggested Haaland’s recent struggles were partly down to fatigue, resting him in wins against Wolves and Newcastle United to keep him fresh.

No Excuses, Just Work

Haaland was candid when discussing his form.

“I don’t want to speak about why I haven’t performed – I don’t think there is any excuse,” he said.

“Fatigue is a lot in the head. I haven’t scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve.

“I know I need to be sharper, better at all of this, and this is something that I have to work on.

I have to keep going because this is what everyone deserves and expects.”

City’s Missed Opportunities and Resilience

City had struggled to take advantage of Arsenal’s occasional slip-ups over the past month, winning just one of their previous six league matches.

A series of missed chances, many involving Haaland himself, had contributed to this uneven run.

However, part of Guardiola’s four-man leadership group for the first time, Haaland sees City’s ability to overturn a deficit at Anfield as a major confidence boost heading into the final 13 fixtures of the season.

The Bigger Picture

Asked whether the Anfield win was bigger than three points in the context of the title race, Haaland was pragmatic but optimistic.

“It’s three points, it’s three points, it’s three points, simple as that, no matter who you play, if it is Tottenham or whoever.

But I know what you mean. And yes, definitely. It’s true,” he explained.

“We’ve seen before that the title race is not over until it’s over.

We go behind and we managed to turn it around, which is not easy. Especially not at Anfield. In the end, I’m proud of the effort that we did.”

What’s Next?

Manchester City will look to carry the confidence from Anfield into their upcoming fixtures, aiming to close the gap on Arsenal and maintain their challenge for a third consecutive Premier League title.

Haaland, determined to end his goal drought, will be key in turning opportunities into decisive moments as the season enters its final stretch.

Summary

Erling Haaland admitted his recent struggles in front of goal but helped Manchester City secure a dramatic victory at Anfield, their first in front of Liverpool fans since 2003.

Despite a tough run without scoring from open play, Haaland assisted Bernardo Silva’s equaliser and scored the winning penalty.

City’s victory not only narrows the gap with Arsenal to six points but also provides crucial momentum in the title race.

Haaland remains committed to improving his performance, while City looks to build on this win in the remaining 13 league games.