5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City

By Sports Desk March 08, 2024

Liverpool host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday in the latest instalment of a rivalry that has become one of the most intense in English football in recent years.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at some memorable encounters between the two clubs.

January 2019: Man City 2 Liverpool 1

City and Liverpool were engaged in a ferocious title battle in 2018-19 in which the standards set by both reached new heights. After a thrilling run-in, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who eventually came out on top by a just single point – an outcome which emphasised the importance of their win over the Reds in January. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane either side of a Roberto Firmino brace were the telling statistics, but the most critical moment proved to be a goal-line clearance by John Stones as the City defender swept the ball away with just 1.12cm to spare.

October 2021: Liverpool 2 Man City 2

A pulsating early-season encounter that justified the hype the fixture has come to attract under the era-defining stewardships of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Guardiola at City. All the key action came in the second half as Sadio Mane swept Liverpool ahead before Phil Foden levelled with a fine strike. Mohamed Salah produced a moment of magic to weave through the box and restore the hosts’ lead but Kevin De Bruyne earned a draw with a long-range effort.

January 2018: Liverpool 4 Man City 3

The second half of the 2017-18 campaign was when Liverpool really began to show their teeth under Klopp and proved they were an improving force that could maybe one day compete with City. They did not derail City’s title charge at Anfield, with Guardiola’s men going on to break the 100-point barrier, but gave them a bloody nose by inflicting their first defeat of the season. Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early strike but three goals in nine minutes early in the second half from Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah won it for Liverpool – despite late replies from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.

November 2019: Liverpool 3 Man City 1

Liverpool finally ended their long wait for a Premier League title in 2019-20 and it became clear that momentum was in their favour as they edged out City on a tense afternoon at Anfield. A Fabinho piledriver gave the hosts an early lead as City raged about a penalty not given at the other end, seconds previously. Salah compounded City’s frustrations by heading a second soon after and Mane grabbed a third but Silva kept City in the contest and Guardiola was furious when another penalty appeal was dismissed.

April 2022: Man City 2 Liverpool 2

As another tight title race between the pair remained in the balance, the rivals were forced to settle for a draw at the Etihad Stadium. City created the most chances and twice led through De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus but Liverpool hit back each time with Diogo Jota and Mane on target. City were frustrated as Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out in a tight VAR call and Riyad Mahrez hit the post but Guardiola’s men ultimately had the last laugh, again taking the title by a point.

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    "To play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team. Now, we have to move on and the headlines will be about the disallowed goal."

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    Conor Gallagher scored the equaliser as Chelsea fought back from two goals down to clinch a deserved 2-2 draw with Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on Saturday.

    Villa looked set to go nine points clear of Tottenham in the race to finish in the Premier League's top four, with Marc Cucurella's own goal and Morgan Rogers' low drive giving them a handsome half-time lead.

    Mauricio Pochettino's men dominated much of the first half without reward, but they continued to press after the interval and cultured finishes from Noni Madueke and Gallagher dragged them level.

    They almost completed a fine comeback in stoppage time, but there was relief for Villa when referee Craig Pawson disallowed a goal for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi following a VAR review due to an infringement from Benoit Badiashile.

    It meant Villa boss Unai Emery was unable to celebrate his new long-term contract with three points, with his team now seven points clear of fifth-placed Spurs, who have three games in hand on their rivals.

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    Villa made a flying start and were ahead within four minutes, albeit in somewhat fortunate circumstances. John McGinn didn't get a clean connection on Lucas Digne's left-wing cutback, but his shot bounced off Cucurella and into the net.

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    Jackson should then have equalised when found by Cucurella six yards out, but he could only send his header against the foot of the post and wide.

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    Olsen stuck out an arm to deny Madueke a second with 71 minutes gone, but he had no chance as the Blues levelled with nine minutes to play, Gallagher rifling a left-footed finish into the top-left corner.

    Chelsea thought they had won it when Disasi headed home five minutes into stoppage time, but referee Pawson disallowed the goal following a VAR review, with Badiashile adjudged to have fouled Diego Carlos in the build-up.

    Villa throw it away

    Villa could hardly have wished for a stronger position at half-time. Despite Chelsea carving out several good openings, they found themselves 2-0 up and primed to exploit their opponents further through the pace of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey.

    Chelsea had lost 16 of their previous 18 Premier League games when trailing at half-time (one win, one draw), losing their last eight when two or more goals behind at the break.

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    Gallagher has polarised opinion at times this season, but Chelsea's stand-in skipper produced a talismanic display just when his team needed him most at Villa Park.

    The England international is known for his tenacious work out of possession, and he forced a turnover on the corner of the Villa box in the build-up to Madueke's goal.

    Gallagher's own strike, which flew into the top corner to stun the home faithful, took him to double figures for Premier League goal involvements for the season (four goals, six assists). He has only achieved that feat in one other campaign in the competition, scoring eight goals and adding three assists on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021-22.

    Four of his seven Premier League goals for Chelsea, meanwhile, have now come from outside the area.

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