Liverpool vs Manchester City – Top 5 Anfield Games

The Champions League Quarter final between Liverpool and Manchester City is probably one of the biggest games the two sides have played against each other, whilst the two teams compete twice every season in the league the only recent cup history between the two sides saw Liverpool knock City out of the League Cup Semi-Final in 2012 and City exacting their revenge four years later with a penalty shootout win in the final of the same competition. What can be guaranteed between the sides is goals, every game in this list has at least three goals in it and this fixture averages just under three goals a game over the past ten years; the last time there was a deadlock was 21^st February 2010 and since then City have won 6, Liverpool have won 8 with 5 other games ending in a draw; with that, here is the top 5 games between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.

5. Liverpool 3 -0 Manchester City 11/04/11

The two sides met back in 2011 with both teams not playing up to a standard that they are now, Manchester City under Mancini were finally seeing the benefits of the owner’s investment and were competing for the Champions League places. Liverpool on the other hand were trying to rescue a horror season set in motion by Roy Hodgson. Kenny Dalglish had returned to the club in January to replace the outgoing Hodgson and the reds had just lost their key player Fernando Torres to Chelsea for a record breaking £50 million. It was Torres’ replacement that stole the show that night at Anfield, Andy Carroll notched two as he looked to make an impression with his high-profile move disrupted by injuries. Dirk Kuyt got a goal in-between the Carroll show and the game was over after just 35 minutes. It was some way to open the scoring for Liverpool, a scuffed shot was blocked by a City defender and fell to Andy Carroll, in a very Gerrard-esque way the striker hit the ball first time into the bottom corner from some distance. It then took two minutes for Liverpool to kill off the game, Kuyt scoring a scrappy goal in the 34rd minute and Carroll scoring a towering header in the 35^th minute to put the team 3 up which is how it stayed.

4. Liverpool 3 0 Manchester City 02/03/16

It was a bittersweet victory for the reds at Anfield, a big 3-0 win with goals from Lallana, Milner and Firmino went some way to numbing the pain of the League Cup final loss at the hands of City days before. With the team in blue edging past Liverpool on penalties the focus for the game days later was to restore some confidence in the team who would still end up in a Europa League final. The scoring was opened by Adam Lallana, who’s long range strike with his left foot snuck its way past Joe Hart at his near post. Just before the end of the first half Milner’s tenacity got him a chance inside the box which he took with ease, the reds went into half-time with the two-nil lead and looked in a good position to exact their revenge. The game was then truly over when Firmino found himself in acres of space on the left, the ball found its way to the Brazilian and he curled his shot into the far corner to put Liverpool truly out of sight. With Liverpool in 5^th and City in 4^th at that point it gave Liverpool hope of a top four finish, however Europa League distractions would mean that Jurgen Klopp’s team would fall short in the race.

3. Liverpool 2 2 Manchester City 25/01/12

It may seem strange that a 2-2 draw at Anfield would be this high up in a list, but it makes sense when you remember that it was the second leg in the League Cup Semi-Final???we’re not that small time. Liverpool came back to Anfield with a 1-0 advantage thanks to a Gerrard penalty and a vital away goal should the game go past extra time, this was then equalled by Nigel De Jong who’s strike from outside the box levelled everything up. It would be a second penalty in a week for Gerrard and Liverpool just before half-time as the referee deemed Micah Richards to have handled the ball inside the box. Once again, the Liverpool captain got the better of Joe Hart to draw Liverpool level in the game and put them ahead over the two legs. Dzeko then scored for City to make the aggregate score 2-2 and have City going through on away goals, however it would be a former City player that would have the last laugh. Some nice work in the box opened up some space for Craig Bellamy to fire past the keeper and take the score to 3-2 on aggregate in Liverpool’s favour, this would be how the game would end and Liverpool would eventually go on to win the league cup with victory over Cardiff City in the final.

2. Liverpool 4 3 Manchester City 14/01/18

Manchester City came to Anfield back in January as champions elect and looking to go the whole season unbeaten, despite the fact City had put 5 past Liverpool in the reverse fixture Liverpool fans were confident and were rewarded for their faith. It only took nine minutes for Liverpool to go in-front, Oxlade-Chamberlain picked the ball up from deep and drove forward; the space then opened up for him to fire a low strike into the far corner from outside the box and make it 1-0 to Liverpool. Things were looking good for the reds until Joe Gomez got caught underneath a cross field ball and gave Sane a chance on goal, the German made no mistake in smashing the ball past Karius to equalise for City just before half time. The second half would truly be Liverpool’s as in the space of nine minutes they scored three goals to put the game truly in their favour. First up was Firmino, who shrugged off John Stones to put a delicate lob over Ederson and into the back of the net; Mane then had a chance to make it three which he didn’t take but made up for it the next time round with a strike from the edge of the box with his weaker foot. Liverpool were 3-1 up and flying which then created the chance for the final goal by Mo Salah, an attempted ball through to Mane was intercepted by the goalkeeper but his clearance was met by the Egyptian who the curled it into the empty net from distance. City’s unbeaten run looked to be coming to an end but they gave themselves a chance late on with two quickfire goals. Bernardo Silva in the 84^th minute and Gundogan in the 90^th minute set up a nervy couple of minutes for Jurgen Klopp, fortunately the team saw the game out and walked away with the three points; ending City’s invincible run in the process.

1. Liverpool 3 2 Manchester City 13/04/14

If the Champions League game isn’t the biggest between the two sides then it’s definitely this game back in 2014, Liverpool welcomed Manchester City to Anfield knowing that a victory would well and truly put them in the driving seat in the race for the league title. Liverpool came flying out the blocks and after just six minutes Raheem Sterling now a City player showed great composure to put Liverpool in the lead. Martin Skrtel then continued his unbelievable scoring record that season with a header at the near post to double Liverpool’s lead after 26 minutes. The reds would go into half-time with a commanding lead and looked set to dismiss City and gain the three points. That would be until a five-minute period saw City score twice to level the game, David Silva at first combining with James Milner to side foot home, then the Spaniard crossing the ball for Glen Johnson to deflect into his own net. The momentum seemed in City’s favour now with the score level but it would be a mistake from the usually reliable Vincent Kompany that gifted Liverpool the game. With ten minutes left the captain made a mess of his clearance and it fell straight to Phillipe Coutinho who duly obliged to put Liverpool back in the lead to give them a big three points in a memorable day at Anfield. Article by Louis Connor Twitter: @Loui_Connor For more Redmen TV content including podcasts, subscriber exclusives and three new shows every week subscribe now and get your first month for FREE bit.ly/RMTVjoin