Liverpool vs Manchester City has been the Premier League’s marquee occasion for most of the last six seasons.
During that time, the teams have been ferocious rivals as they have jostled for major silverware and produced memorable encounters.
Their latest tussle comes today at Anfield, where Liverpool — the clear title favourites — have the chance to move 11 points clear of their rivals with a victory. A City win, however, would catapult them back into the race.
Our experts, Andy Jones and Sam Lee, pick over the key pre-match questions.
What do the clubs think of each other and how has Arne Slot’s arrival changed the dynamic?
Jones: It is far from a friendly relationship from Liverpool’s perspective, even if the rivalry has never been particularly fierce on the pitch, intensifying only due to the fact that the clubs have largely been pursuing the same trophies domestically and in Europe.
Tensions have mounted most behind the scenes, particularly at boardroom level. At Liverpool, there has been private scepticism about how their rivals operate which has occasionally seeped into public. That began with Liverpool owner John Henry’s sarcastic tweet — “How much was the losing bid?” — when City signed a £400million stadium rights deal with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways in 2011.
Liverpool have kept their counsel after City were charged with 115 breaches of financial rules by the Premier League — charges City deny — but are not squeaky clean themselves. In 2013, it was reported that Liverpool had reached a financial settlement with their rivals amid allegations that City’s scouting database had been hacked. A Football Association investigation was closed in 2020 but confirmed the existence of a settlement.
There is a toxicity among sections of the fanbases, too. Liverpool fans have previously thrown missiles at City’s team bus, while City’s have engaged in offensive chants aimed at their rivals. More positively, initiatives such as campaigning against ticket prices and collecting for Food Banks have brought the fanbases together.
Slot has changed the feel of a game that was often billed as a meeting between two of the world’s greatest coaches. Slot is still in the process of cementing himself as one of the top managers in the world — although he is on the right track.
The 46-year-old respects the Catalan and has spoken about how influential he has been on forming his own ideas, but no longer will styles contrast quite as much.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola had a respectful but intense rivalry (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Lee: The thing that sums this up best is that, in the fall-out from the ill-tempered draw with Arsenal in September, it was common for City fans to say they would prefer Liverpool to win the title than Mikel Arteta’s side.
Given the strength of ill feeling towards Liverpool in recent years, that was an incredible thing to hear. That speaks not only to the displeasure with Arsenal following that game, but probably the fact that Jurgen Klopp has left.
Klopp was (and still is) hugely disliked by City fans and was an emblem for Liverpool Football Club — they obviously see that hugely positively, their rivals less so. To borrow from a recent meme, Slot seems like a chill guy and has not, so far, engendered the same strong feelings among rivals as Klopp had. We will revisit this at 6pm on Sunday, though.
Which City player is most feared by Liverpool?
Jones: Erling Haaland seems the only player capable of putting the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis. Stop him and life, theoretically, becomes a lot simpler.
However, I would go with Kevin De Bruyne. While his impact and influence has been limited this season, he has consistently been a difference maker in these fixtures. Four goals and four assists in his last seven league appearances against Liverpool is impressive.
And which Liverpool player is most feared by City?
Lee: At Anfield in particular it’s the whole package but if there’s one person who has spearheaded and exemplified the whirlwind that you can find yourself caught up in then it’s a simple answer: Mohamed Salah.
Mohamed Salah has hurt Manchester City before (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images,)
Who is this game bigger for?
Jones: Given the noise around City, the run of form they are on and the manner of their results, it feels like a bigger game for them. Is the league season on the line? It’s probably too early for that but dropping 11 points behind the leaders would begin to feel insurmountable even this early in the campaign.
From Liverpool’s perspective it is all about continuing to build momentum and the gap to a title rival. The worst that can happen is they end the weekend top of the table by five points — that’s not a bad worst-case scenario, even if they won’t want to give City, or Arsenal, any encouragement.
Lee: If Liverpool win they will obviously be in a very strong position at the top of the table. If City win, despite everything, the gap will only be five points, which is really not bad at all. But it is not as if one single victory would fix City’s current issues because they still have injuries and, arguably, problems in a Rodri-less midfield even without the other fitness concerns.
If they were to somehow beat Liverpool they would not be guaranteed to beat Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace or whoever else in the coming weeks. So probably Liverpool then! They have the stability to ensure that a victory would most likely be built upon.
What has been your favourite Liverpool-City game?
Jones: There have been some epic contests at Anfield. The 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg in 2018 was electric, and the 2013-14 topsy-turvy 3-2 league victory deserves a mention.
But the 4-3 victory in 2018 stands out. Liverpool swept aside Guardiola’s side in an intense 10-minute onslaught. It was the moment you sensed that Klopp’s side began to believe they could be on their opponents’ level, and the titanic battles that came after proved it.
Lee: It was the 2021-22 season when there were two 2-2 draws. One was at the Etihad in April and that was fun, for sure, but nothing comes close to the one at Anfield earlier that season.
It was not just the high point of this fixture but the high point of Premier League football, as good as it gets when it comes to tactics, intensity and players playing at the very top of their game. It was a pleasure to be at and might be my favourite City game, not just my favourite between these two.
Where will this game be won and lost?
Jones: Transition. Without Rodri, counter-attacks and transition moments have been where teams have been able to hurt Guardiola’s side in recent weeks.
Under Slot, the aim has been to be more possession-based and controlled, but Liverpool have remained at their most threatening this season when in transition. It has been how they have hurt City in the past, and the key is being clinical.
Lee: At the risk of hyperbole, if you look at the City team right now it could be lost everywhere! There is no stability in midfield or defence (or in goal if you look at the third Feyenoord goal, although Ederson has been good this season) and if Haaland is not firing they really struggle to score.
It’s just a terrible time for City and the worst possible time to go to Anfield. If you had to pinpoint one area it will be on transitions, and not just in the sense of Liverpool winning the ball back and counter-attacking quickly. With Liverpool’s ability to play out from the back, and City’s problems stopping teams moving through their lines, it is easy to imagine — and we will see what actually happens — Slot’s side tearing through them.
What’s your prediction?
Jones: I’m intrigued by what Guardiola may conjure up tactically, but if their weaknesses remain exposed then Liverpool, who are riding high on momentum and confidence, should have too much firepower. I’ll go 2-1.
Lee: A Liverpool win.
(Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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