The Reds take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and they can call upon some impressive recent wins over them for inspiration
Liverpool famously beat Manchester City en route to the Champions League final in 2018
Liverpool famously beat Manchester City en route to the Champions League final in 2018
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After an impressive 1-0 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Arne Slot’s Liverpool immediately need to turn their attention to the next important clash, this time in the Premier League, against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Both sides are trying to claw back the gap on pacesetters Arsenal, and the loser could find themselves already adrift from the title challengers.
With so much on the line this early in the season, it will most likely be an exciting game, and it’s fair to say these two teams have had their share of memorable matches in the 218 meetings between them. Here are some of Liverpool’s best wins against Manchester City.
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Liverpool 6-0 Manchester City, 28 October 1995
One of the best performances from a Liverpool side against Manchester City actually occurred in a decade that was drastically less successful that the previous two. With a mix of new exciting talent and players with ample experience, Anfield was sent rocking as their side put six past the men in sky blue.
The forward line consisted of some of Liverpool’s greats, with a combination of veterans Ian Rush and John Barnes, with some electric youth added in the form of a young Robbie Fowler.
Even when nearing the end of his career on Merseyside, prolific Welshman Rush still had an eye for goal, popping up with the first after only three minutes, and the sixth just after the hour mark.
In between a 22-year-old Jamie Redknapp got the second, with the Reds two goals to the good after only five minutes. Fowler also got a brace, with his attempts either side of a Neil Ruddock fourth, after he'd come on for Barnes in the 33rd minute. The Citizens were sent home humiliated, after a demolition job by Liverpool.
Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool, 05 October 2008
Still four years off their first Premier League title, Manchester City had nonetheless built up a strong squad by the 2008/09 season, with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart all at the club and starting.
Home fans saw their side quickly take a two-goal lead against title challengers Liverpool. The first was through Stephen Ireland, before the advantage was doubled by Javier Garrido just before half-time.
But in typical Liverpool under Rafa Benitez fashion, the players battled to get back in it and sure enough they did. Star striker Fernando Torres’s brace had the travelling support roaring, and by the 73rd minute the visitors were all square.
By the final seconds of the 90 the game was level, until Dirk Kuyt fired the Reds to three points in Manchester. The close-range effort from the Dutchman gave Liverpool a massive win in their quest for the title. Benitez’s side ended up finishing second that year, four points behind Manchester United.
Jurgen Klopp provided many memorable matches against Manchester City and in the Champions League during his time at Anfield, one of those being in the first leg of the quarter-final during the 2017/18 season. Pep Guardiola’s side arrived as arguably the best team in the world at the time, yet they were made to look average by an incredible first 30 minutes from the Reds.
It took 12 minutes for an in-form Mohamed Salah to blast a close range attempt past a helpless Ederson in goal. The Egyptian’s electric counter-attack goal broke the deadlock, and the lead was then increased by a sensational strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain just nine minutes later. Moments after the half an hour mark Liverpool made it three through a Sadio Mane header.
The first leg result was followed up by a strong performance at the Etihad, where Salah and Roberto Firmino finished the tie off despite an early Gabriel Jesus goal that gave the hosts an initial lifeline. Klopp’s side would eventually lose the final of the Champions League that season to Real Madrid 3-1.
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City, 10 November 2019
In Liverpool’s emphatic title winning season during the 2019/20 campaign, one the biggest results was a 3-1 win over the side that had beaten them to the league by one point the year before. That team was Manchester City.
A performance fuelled by revenge, Klopp’s side came out firing. A beautiful long distance strike from Fabinho put the home side in front, and it was quickly followed up by a header from Salah, delivered via an inch-perfect cross from Andy Robertson.
Liverpool started the second half brightly, just like the first, as the Kop willed in a back post header from Mane which was too powerful for the hands of Claudio Bravo.
With 12 minutes still to play Bernardo Silva got one back for Guardiola’s side but it ended up being a consolation. It was another huge win on the way to the incredible 99 points that Liverpool achieved that season.
Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool, 23 February 2025
Arne Slot’s first season in charge of Liverpool was full of many achievements, and one of the most impressive being his double over Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Winning home and away in the Premier League against the Citizens was something that the Dutchman’s predecessor Klopp could never do. But after a 2-0 win at Anfield earlier that season, the double was achievedafter a quick start from Liverpool.
A well-worked corner routine allowed Salah to have a shot from just behind the penalty spot, and with a bundle of bodies blocking the keeper's vision, Ederson couldn’t react until it was too late and the ball was in.
The visitors were soon able to double their lead to 2-0 thanks to a well taken finish from Dominik Szoboszlai which was enough to get Slot’s side the victory.
The win at the Etihad was a massive result in the Kopites quest for their 20th league title, and getting the three points gave the players and fans alike the belief that they could finish the season on top.