Manchester City delivered a major statement in the Premier League title race after producing a dramatic late turnaround against Liverpool at Anfield — a result Wayne Rooney believes could have a psychological impact on Arsenal.

The reigning champions appeared on course to fall further behind in the standings after Liverpool took the lead through a brilliant Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick. With Arsenal securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sunderland earlier in the weekend, City were facing the prospect of seeing the gap at the top stretch significantly.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side refused to back down. Bernardo Silva restored parity late in the match before Erling Haaland stepped up in stoppage time to score the decisive goal, sealing a crucial 2-1 victory and keeping City firmly in the title hunt.

Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Rooney highlighted the importance of the result for Manchester City and warned that it could be a deflating moment for Arsenal.

“Winning at Anfield is never easy,” Rooney said. “To come back after going behind shows huge character. If City had dropped points there, the title challenge would have become much more complicated.”

The former Manchester United captain stressed that Arsenal’s focus must remain internal despite the pressure applied by City’s win.

“When you’re in a title race, it’s very hard not to watch your rivals,” Rooney explained. “But Arsenal have to concentrate on their own performances. You lose energy hoping others slip up, and that can be dangerous.”

Rooney also pointed to Erling Haaland’s performance as a potential turning point in the season. Despite a quieter run of form in recent weeks, the Norwegian striker played a key role by assisting the equaliser before converting a high-pressure penalty late on.

“Haaland looked different today,” Rooney noted. “He was dropping deeper, linking play, and still delivered in the biggest moment. That goal will do wonders for his confidence — and a confident Haaland is a scary prospect for any team chasing the title.”

The win allows Manchester City to reduce the gap at the top to six points, with an opportunity to close it further when they face Fulham midweek. Arsenal, meanwhile, return to action against Brentford, knowing the pressure is firmly back on in an increasingly intense title race.