Liverpool v Manchester City: Classic matches

While Liverpool fans would likely consider Manchester United and Everton as their biggest rivals, there is no doubt that Manchester City have pushed the Reds the furthest in recent years, and vice versa.

From title-winning goal line clearances to seven-goal thrillers, we've delved into the archives and picked out five classic matches between the two north west sides.

Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City - 2018

The Citizens headed into the game having not lost in the league all season, with their sights set on an invincible campaign.

This Liverpool side, who just days before had lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, had other ideas.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's sweetly struck strike took Jurgen Klopp's side into the lead. The Reds were unable to see out the first half however, with Leroy Sane levelling things up.

While many anticipated an evenly poised second half, what was about to happen simply couldn't have been predicted.

Within 23 minutes of the restart, Liverpool found themselves 4-1 up. Goals from the famous trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah crushed City fans' invincible dreams and while the Blues aimed to keep these hopes alive, goals in the 84th and 91st acted merely as a consolation.

While the outcome wasn't season-defining for either side, it will be remembered for a frantic second half, instilled with energy, belief and quality.

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City - 2021

In a season where both sides were pushing to claim the Premier League title, the contests at Anfield and the Etihad did not fail to disappoint. First up, Anfield.

The first half acted more as a tactical battle between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, with little to separate the two sides. It was the perfect case of a tale of two halves.

Mane, who loved a goal in this fixture, fired the Reds into the lead, following a perfectly executed through ball by the 'Egyptian King', Mohamed Salah.

The lead didn't last long, with Phil Foden's equaliser setting the game up for a fascinating end.

What came next was a moment of brilliance. Salah received the ball in a position flooded with blue shirts. A combination of power and elegance meant the number 11 was able to dance past a lacklustre City defence, before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner on his weaker right foot.

Salah's stunning solo goal was not enough to see Liverpool through, with Kevin De Bruyne's deflected effort finding the net, leaving Alisson with little chance.

A game littered with world class ability, and a result which ultimately suited the travelling side more, with the Blues going on to win the Premier League by just a point.

Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool - 2022

Also in the 2021/22 campaign, it would be rude not to include the reverse fixture of the previous contest.

While the Reds took the lead on both occasions earlier in the season, Manchester City had the first say in this one. Alisson was beaten for the second time in the season by a deflected De Bruyne effort, awarding City an early lead.

Diogo Jota was quick to react, finding the net in the 13th minute. Gabriel Jesus restored City's lead in the 37th minute, meaning the Reds were in need of at least one goal to keep their quadruple hopes alive.

It took less than a minute to find the goal, and who better than Mane to do it? He found space in behind the Manchester City defence and, like in the reserve fixture, was found by Salah before clinically slotting home.

With both league games in the 2021/22 season resulting in a 2-2 draw, it is clear to see why Jurgen Klopp's and Pep Guardiola's sides were considered two of the best teams in world football.

Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool - 2019

While a 2-1 result doesn't scream 'thriller', this contest provided a benchmark to the rest of the Premier League.

The Blues were seven points behind Liverpool heading into this game and a defeat would give the Reds a huge boost as they aimed to end their Premier League drought.

Sergio Aguero sent the blue side of Manchester into pandemonium, finding the net from an extremely narrow angle.

Nerves were growing inside the Etihad, as Liverpool too were growing into the game and finding themselves more comfortable in possession.

A beautifully executed team move was finished off by Liverpool's Brazilian number nine, Firmino, heading home from close range.

The game was level for just eight minutes, as Sane's powerful hit found the back of the net.

A lead which could have been extended to 10 points was reduced to just four. A decisive win for the Blues which set them on their way to winning the league in May by, you guessed it, just a point.

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City - 2019

This contest was the pure definition of a six pointer. A game in which a Liverpool win would take them nine points clear at the top, while a City win would put them just three points behind league leaders Liverpool.

The Reds took a controversial lead in the sixth minute of the game. While there was nothing controversial about Fabinho's perfectly hit effort, an incident at the other end of the pitch certainly raised some eyebrows, especially for those in blue.

Manchester City's makeshift defence could not handle the Liverpool onslaught, with Salah heading home the second goal of the game.

While City continued to test the hosts, the Reds took a 2-0 lead into the break, and were just 45 minutes away from a crucial three points in their hunt for the title.

Liverpool's number 10, Mane, made matters even worse for the reigning Premier League champions, scoring Liverpool's third and taking the game out of sight.

While the Blues' fightback awarded them a consolation, it was not enough to earn them any points, meaning the six-point gap became nine.