Defending Premier League champions, Man City, lock horns with Liverpool at Anfield this Sunday. It’s one of the most hotly anticipated clashes of the season, and of any season during the past decade. If either side wins and bag 3pts, they will leapfrog Arsenal and go top of the EPL ladder, with 10 games left to play in the title race.
Klopp v Pep – The End of an Era
With Jurgen Klopp heading off to pastures new at the end of the season, this could be the last time he pits his wits against Pep Guardiola. A FA Cup clash between Liverpool and Man City could still materialise later in the season though. The two managerial giants have gone at it hammer and tongs since the Spaniard arrived on the Premier League scene at the start of the 2016/17 season. Liverpool and Man City have met 21 times in all competitions since then and honours have been fairly even. Liverpool winning 8 times, City 7 times and with 6 draws between the two.
Here we look back at the five most recent clashes between the sides, a run of games that stretches back to the start of the 2022/23 season.
Man City 1 – 1 Liverpool (EPL) November 25th 2023
The most recent match-up between Man City and Liverpool saw the top-2 sides clash at the Etihad. Trent Alexander-Arnold grabbed a late equaliser to silence the City crowd and snatch a vital point for the Reds. He would make Pep’s posse pay for failing to kill the visitors off.
City, last season’s Treble winners, had taken the lead midway through the first half after a poor clearance from Alisson allowed Haaland to slot home. In doing so, the Norwegian hitman became the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League goals (in his 48th match). City had the better chances and had a Ruben Dias tap-in chalked off with Akanji adjudged to have fouled Alisson.
Man City 4 – 1 Liverpool (EPL) April 1st 2023
Man City maintained the pressure on EPL leaders Arsenal (and as we know, that pressure would tell on the Gunners) with a top performance at the Etihad. Haaland was missing (groin injury), but that didn’t stop Pep’s side outclassing Liverpool. Despite falling behind early to a Mo Salah counter-attack strike, City kept their cool and responded in devastating fashion, to run out cosy winners.
Jack Grealish was outstanding and involved in pivotal moments. He made a crucial tackle on Salah when Liverpool had the chance to double their lead and would then cross for Alvarez to equalise after 27 minutes. He wrapped up a stunning display when getting on the end of a De Bruyne cross in the 74th minute to grab City’s fourth, as Liverpool ended well beaten. John Stones also shone for City in a new advanced role. Breaking up attacks and spraying passes around in midfield, while also dropping back into defence when required.
Too often during the 2022/23 season, Liverpool produced mediocre performances such as this. They would end up finishing out of the top-4 (5th) for the first time in seven seasons. The midfield pairing of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho looked increasingly vulnerable, and both departed for Saudi clubs in the summer.
Man City 3 – 2 Liverpool (League Cup) December 22nd 2022
Man City emerged victorious in a Carabao Cup 4th Round thriller at the Etihad. Nathan Ake netted the winner (his first goal since April) to knock out holders Liverpool. City led three times but were pegged back on two occasions. Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings for Pep’s side, delivering pinpoint crosses for Haaland’s opener and Ake’s winner.
Many thought Man City would use the win to springboard themselves to further League Cup success. However, less than a month later, Southampton had dumped them out in the Quarter-Finals.
Liverpool did create numerous chances, but Darwin Nunez was culprit No.1 for failing to capitalise on them. Fabio Carvalho netted for the Reds, but like Liverpool as a whole, his season never really got going before the World Cup (and wouldn’t after). Playing just 13 games for the Reds before being shipped off to RB Leipzig on loan.
Liverpool 1 – 0 Man City (EPL) October 16th 2022
Man City came out second best the last time they played at Anfield. Liverpool would put their Premier League struggles behind them to end City’s unbeaten run in a feisty encounter. Anfield was at its intimidating best and the Reds rose to the occasion. They finally found the form which has deserted them for much of the season to overcome the reigning champions. Salah would overshadow Haaland, racing on to a clearance from keeper Alisson to score the game’s only goal. Ederson had produced a brilliant save to deny the Egyptian striker in a similar one-on-one situation earlier in the game.
Guardiola was left furious as a Phil Foden goal was ruled out by VAR as Haaland was deemed to have fouled Fabinho in the build-up. Tempers would boil over at the end of the match too with Klopp sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for over-protesting about a foul on Salah. While Salah sparkled upfront, Joe Gomez put in a commanding performance at the back. Keeping City’s all-powerful attack under wraps.
Liverpool 3 – 1 Man City (Community Shield) July 30th 2022
Summer signing Darwin Nunez sealed victory as Liverpool landed the first blow of the season by winning a thrilling Community Shield encounter against Man City. It was played at Leicester’s King Power Stadium, as Wembley was preparing to host the Women’s Euros final. The win would go some way to ease Liverpool’s pain of getting pipped to the EPL title the previous season.
Both Man City’s striking signings were given a run out. Erling Haaland showed glimpses of what he would bring, making Adrian pull off an impressive save. It was their other attacking newcomer though, Julian Alvarez, who would come off the bench to grab a second half equaliser. Salah, who had signed a bumper new contract in the summer, slotted home from the penalty spot to regain Liverpool’s lead. Nunez, who was brought in as a replacement for Sadio Mane, would cement the win in injury time. Winning the Community Shield meant that Jurgen Klopp completed the domestic trophy set.
What Awaits This Sunday At Anfield?
As mentioned, Liverpool have recorded the most wins in head-to-head clashes against Man City since the Klopp v Pep era started in 2016. However, five of the Reds’ eight wins came during the early phase of Pep’s reign, during or before 2019. Liverpool did record three successive wins over City during 2022 (albeit one was the Community Shield).
The balance of power shifted in Man City’s favour in the most recent encounters. In the last three games, City accumulated 51 shots (22 on target) in comparison to Liverpool’s 19 shots (only 6 on target). Although all those three games were played at the Etihad. The fact Sunday’s game is at Anfield is a huge plus for the Reds. Liverpool have lost only one of their past 20 meetings with Man City in front of the frenzied Kop. Pep’s defence will also find it difficult to keep Liverpool at bay. The Reds haven’t drawn a blank in this fixture, since losing 4-0 at the Etihad, 11 games ago (July 2020)
Salah’s fitness is a big plus for Jurgen Klopp. The Egyptian striking sensation has scored or assisted during each of his last seven Premier League starts against Man City. He’s netted 9 times in total against them in all competitions. De Bruyne holds the same talismanic importance for City, having scored 4 times with 3 assists in his last six appearances vs Liverpool.
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