Frank Christian
The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City is shaping up to be a significant matchup in the Premier League of this decade, similar to historical rivalries like Liverpool versus Everton in the 1980s and Manchester United versus Arsenal in the 1990s.
However, memorable encounters between these two teams go beyond the current period of intense competition.
Here are five remarkable matches featuring Liverpool and Manchester City, as identified by the esteemed football magazine FourFourTwo in 2021.
1. Liverpool 2-2 Man City, 2012 (Premier League)
This match marked Brendan Rodgers’ second game as Liverpool’s manager, where a young Raheem Sterling made his debut, showcasing a dynamic performance against his future club.
Martin Skrtel scored first, but a misfired pass led to Carlos Tevez equalizing late in a match that also featured goals from Yaya Toure and a stunning free-kick from Luis Suarez.
2. Liverpool 2-2 Man City, 2012 (League Cup)
In this thrilling semi-final, Craig Bellamy played a crucial role as City took the lead twice. The draw combined with a previous 1-0 win for Liverpool at the Etihad sent them to Wembley for the first time since 1996.
They ultimately captured the League Cup that year, with a penalty shootout victory over Cardiff City, marking Kenny Dalglish’s final trophy as coach.
3. Liverpool 1-3 Man City, 1981 (Division One)
In an era where winning earned three points, Liverpool faced difficulties following goalkeeper Ray Clemence’s exit. Bruce Grobelaar and Phil Thompson struggled that day.
This victory was essential for City, while it became a pivotal moment for Liverpool, who rebounded from a mid-table position to eventually win the league title.
4. Man City 2-1 Liverpool, 2019 (Premier League)
This match was crucial, featuring goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane around an equalizer from Roberto Firmino, as City began their quest to close the gap on the then seven-point clear Reds.
City would eventually claim the title, while Jurgen Klopp’s side would find solace in winning the Champions League the following year.
5. Liverpool 4-3 Man City, 2018 (Premier League)
This high-scoring thriller occurred with Liverpool trailing City by 18 points. Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah thrilled the home crowd.
Despite a late scare from City, with goals from Sane, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan, Liverpool managed to hold on for the win.
6. Liverpool 3-2 Man City, 2014 (Premier League)
Steven Gerrard’s memorable phrase, “This does not f***ing slip now,” perfectly captures the intensity of this match, which took place before a pivotal moment against Chelsea.
With strikes from Sterling and Skrtel, Liverpool looked set for victory until a Glen Johnson own goal and a moment of brilliance from David Silva leveled the score until Philippe Coutinho sealed it late in the game.
