Title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool meet on Saturday lunchtime in a huge clash at the top of the Premier League.
Under respective managers Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, the two clubs have been the preeminent forces in English football in recent years.
The Reds flopped last season but are City’s closest challengers heading into the weekend as we look back at some notable Man City vs Liverpool meetings in the current era.
Man City 1 Liverpool 1 (March 19, 2017)
This was a clash between third and fourth at the time but an indicator of high-intensity top-of-the-table battles to come as both sides played their part in a thrilling draw.
Former City midfielder James Milner scored from the penalty spot for Liverpool after 51 minutes, but Sergio Aguero levelled.
Yet that was far from the full story with both sides missing gilt-edged opportunities, including Aguero fluffing another chance and later volleying over.
Kevin De Bruyne also hit a post for City while, at the other end, Adam Lallana failed to tap into an empty net. Both teams also felt they were unlucky with some refereeing decisions in a frantic encounter.
Liverpool 4 Man City 3 (January 14, 2018)
Liverpool hit City with three goals in a ferocious eight-minute spell as they edged a pulsating clash that ignited the modern rivalry between the clubs.
City had been flying at the time and were well on course for the title, but the Reds served warning they would soon be a force to be reckoned with.
Leroy Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early strike, but Liverpool took control as Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah netted in a whirlwind spell in the second half. Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan replied late on, but Liverpool held on.
Man City 2 Liverpool 1 (January 3, 2019)
After Liverpool also knocked City out of the Champions League in 2018, by the following season they were genuine title rivals.
Klopp’s side had a firm advantage heading into the new year and could have gone 10 points clear at the top had they won at the Etihad. Yet, when the chips were down, Guardiola’s men responded.
Aguero and Sane scored either side of a Firmino equaliser on a night of tension at the Etihad, where the real moment of drama was a remarkable goal-line clearance by John Stones after Mane hit a post.
Technology later showed the ball had failed to cross the line by just 1.12cm. On such fine margins titles can be decided and City eventually won the race by a point.
Liverpool 3 Man City 1 (November 10, 2019)
After their near miss the previous year, 2019-20 saw Liverpool finally reclaim the title after a 30-year wait. The Anfield side started the season strongly and hardly looked back.
Their home victory over City was a real statement of intent and put them eight points clear after just eight games.
Fabinho put them ahead with stunning strike after just six minutes and Salah doubled their lead from a swift counter-attack soon after, with Mane later adding a third. City rallied with Bernardo Silva pulling one back and Guardiola raged after a penalty appeal was turned down, but Liverpool held on.
Man City 1 Liverpool 1 (November 8, 2020)
Both sides settled for a point from another compelling chapter in Man City vs Liverpool meetings, played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Salah put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot, but City replied through Gabriel Jesus.
City were then awarded a controversial penalty for handball against Joe Gomez following a lengthy VAR review, but De Bruyne shot wide from the spot. Both sides had further chances to win it, with Jesus missing the best of them when he headed wide.
Liverpool 2 Man City 2 (October 3, 201)
De Bruyne cancelled out Salah’s stunning strike as City twice hit back to draw at Anfield in a tie befitting two of the Premier League’s heavyweights.
A game which Guardiola’s side had bossed in the first half exploded into life after the break with the stand-out moment being Salah’s weaving effort.
As good as his goal was, it was not enough to secure the three points which would have taken his team back to the top of the table as De Bruyne struck with nine minutes remaining.
Mane’s 99th Premier League goal had given the hosts an early second-half lead only for the excellent Phil Foden to get City back on level terms.
Man City 2 Liverpool 2 (April 10, 2022)
City retained their slender lead at the Premier League summit as the two title rivals shared a 2-2 draw for a second time that season.
De Bruyne fired the champions into a fifth-minute lead but Diogo Jota levelled eight minutes later for the second-placed Reds.
Jesus restored City’s advantage before the break but Mane marked his 30th birthday with a second equaliser.
Raheem Sterling thought he had put City ahead for a third time against his former club but VAR ruled against him in a tight offside decision before substitute Riyad Mahrez hit the post late on.
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