Even though Manchester City and Liverpool were first played in 1893 and the fixture played over 225 times, the rivalry between the sides did not start until 2017 when two world-class managers Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp got their respective teams clicked with their football philosophy. The two sides dominated the Premier League in the period with Liverpool winning one title while City grabbing the others. However, the Reds gave intense competition in most of the title chase, losing the silverware for merely a point. During this period, the two clubs set six of the eight highest Premier League points totals since 1995. Winning this fixture has often been season-defining for the team.
Historically, Liverpool has dominated this clash but with Manchester City getting an injection of cash after the UAE-led takeover and Guardiola taking charge, the club went to a different level. So, even after winning just 12 times in the Premier League against the Reds overall, City has won an equal number of matches as their rivals in the last seven years. However, the team has only kept six clean sheets in the fixture's history while the Merseyside club has kept 15. Both teams have been strong at home with the away games posing the strictest challenge for obvious reasons. With Liverpool going through a rough time in the ending years of Jurgen Klopp and the rise of Arsenal under Mikel Arteta shifted the tide a bit but the rivalry is getting a spark again under Arne Slot and City facing struggle.
Manchester City vs Liverpool Head-to-head Premier League meetings
Played - 54
Manchester City won - 12
Drawn - 21
Liverpool won - 21
Manchester City vs Liverpool Goals Scored (Premier League)
Manchester City scored - 67
Liverpool scored - 77
Manchester City vs Liverpool Clean Sheets (Premier League)
Manchester City clean sheet - 6
Liverpool clean sheet - 15
Biggest win: Liverpool 6-0 Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool (28 October 1995)
The seventh Premier League meeting between the sides in 1995 offered the biggest win in this fixture with Liverpool thrashing Manchester City 6-0 at Anfield. The Reds boasted the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and the club’s all-time leading goalscorer Ian Rush proving to be a complete mismatch for the opposition. The host went 2-0 up incredibly within just five minutes of the kick-off. The Welsh legend began the scoring shortly followed by a Redknapp strike while Fowler scored a stunning brace in the second half. Substitute Neil Ruddock scored in between leading Rush to hit the last nail in the coffin in the 64th minute.
Biggest Manchester City win: Manchester City 5-0 Liverpool - Etihad Stadium, Manchester (9 September 2017)
Manchester City also had their say and had to take its modern golden era to seek revenge, in their home as well. Managed by Guardiola, they put Liverpool to the sword with Sergio Aguero giving the lead inside 24 minutes although the real pomp came in the second half when Sadio Mane was sent off for a high-boot challenge on goalkeeper Ederson. Gabriel Jesus added a double before substitute Leroy Sane joined the party giving more misery to the visitors with a late brace making a statement victory. The Reds hardly believed their defensive crumble even with 10 men as Klopp suffered the joint-heaviest defeat in his career. City went on to win the Premier League that season in dominating fashion, but not without a shock that they did not forget for long visiting Anfield.
Highest scoring game: Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool (14 January 2018)
Manchester City remained unbeaten during the first half of the season, playing scintillating football that sparked debates about emulating Arsenal’s invincible season. However, their run was halted by Liverpool in a thrilling match at Anfield. By now, the Reds greatly revamped the squad by selling one of their prime star Phillipe Coutinho in a record deal to Barcelona and purchased their desired targets Van Dijk and Alisson. This was the first match for the Reds without the Brazilian but his absence was not felt as Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain's low drive gave the host a stunning lead over the table-toppers inside nine minutes. City responded, absorbing the early shock with Sane finding the net in this fixture again. It looked like Guardiola’s men would take control from here in the second half but Anfield became a fortress for the home side instead. Klopp’s side scored three goals in eight minutes remarkably to draw the match in their favour. Liverpool’s iconic trio shone with Roberto Firmino restoring the lead, Mane slamming the third and Mohamed Salah scoring the eventual winner by lobbing Ederson from a long way out causing sheer euphoria. The visitors did not give in with Bernardo Silva’s and later Ilkay Gundogan’s strike in stoppage time made things interesting. Liverpool shocked up the pressure to register a memorable win.
Manchester City vs Liverpool Last Five Premier League Meetings
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool (10 April 2022)
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City (16 October 2022)
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool (1 April 2023)
Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (25 November 2023)
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City (10 March 2024)
