Liverpool vs Man City: Five Classic Clashes Between Premier League Giants

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City resumes on Sunday when the two sides meet at Anfield in the Premier League. History suggests Liverpool have the upper hand in this fixture, but recent form tilts firmly toward the Manchester club.

City, who remain under scrutiny over serious financial misconduct allegations, top the table with 15 points, six clear of sixth-placed Liverpool.

Sunday's match will be the 202nd meeting between the sides across all competitions. Liverpool lead the head-to-head record with 95 wins, while City have won 53 and 53 have ended level.

Here are five of the most memorable encounters between the two clubs in recent years.

Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City (14 January 2018 – Premier League)

The list begins with a seven-goal thriller eight years ago. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put Liverpool ahead early at Anfield before Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah each scored during a blistering eight-minute spell in the second half that put the hosts 4-1 up.

City, however, pulled two goals back in the final six minutes through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, forcing Liverpool to cling on for a nerve-jangling win.

The result not only strengthened Liverpool's grip on a top-four place but also ended City's unbeaten run that season. City still went on to win the title with a record 100 points, while Liverpool finished fourth.

Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City (13 April 2014 – Premier League)

This encounter goes further back and was equally packed with goals. On the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters, the 10-man Reds beat City 3-2 in a dramatic title race.

Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put Liverpool ahead early, but City levelled through David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal before Philippe Coutinho struck the winner in the 78th minute.

Coutinho pounced on a poor clearance from Vincent Kompany inside the box and fired low into the corner to send Anfield into raptures. The win was a major step in Liverpool's title charge, but City ultimately lifted the trophy, finishing two points ahead of the Merseyside club.

Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (3 January 2019 – Premier League)

The next meeting saw City come out on top. Sergio Aguero gave City a first-half lead before Firmino equalised in the 64th minute.

But Leroy Sane secured all three points for the hosts with a 72nd-minute strike. After a rapid counter-attack, Sterling played in Sane charging down the left, and the German's left-footed effort found the bottom corner after clipping the post.

The defeat was Liverpool's first of the season, ending a 20-match unbeaten run. City also cut Liverpool's lead at the top to four points and went on to win the title, finishing a single point ahead of the Reds.

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City (10 November 2019 – Premier League)

This match came in the first season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Goals from Fabinho, Salah and Mane gave Liverpool an impressive 3-1 win over the reigning champions.

The game is best remembered for Fabinho's stunning strike, the Brazilian firing into the net from around 25 yards. The result also opened up an eight-point lead at the top for Liverpool and proved a turning point in their march to ending a 30-year wait for a league title.

That season, Liverpool finished with 99 points, 18 clear of second-placed City.

Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (4 April 2018 – Champions League quarter-final, first leg)

The five-match list closes with a Champions League meeting. Liverpool scored three goals inside the first 30 minutes to tear their opponents apart in the first leg of the quarter-final.

Once again, Salah, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain were the scorers as Liverpool seized control of the tie. Oxlade-Chamberlain's powerful strike from outside the box was the highlight of the night.

Liverpool went on to reach the final, where they lost to Real Madrid.