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Liverpool v Manchester City: Premier League – live!

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I have a lot of pre-match reading for you. Honestly, tell everyone in the room to go away for an hour or so, because you’re going to be too busy staring at your phone/tablet/other device to interact in any meaningful way. First off: Mane-Firmino-Salah or Sterling-Aguero-whoever? That is the question:





Hello world!

And welcome to the first leg of this season’s Premier League title play-off! Both teams will I’m sure be looking forward to a bit of genuine competition, away from the 36 mildly glorified irritant friendlies which occupy the majority of their domestic attentions. Whoever wins this one will carry an advantage into the second leg, scheduled for the weekend of 4 April, though the nine-point deficit City will be lumbered with should they lose, coupled with Liverpool’s ongoing refusal to be beaten by anyone under any circumstances, might make that one immaterial.

While we wait for the teams here’s a little trip down memory lane, at previous matches between these teams at Anfield since Pep Guardiola joined Jürgen Klopp in England:

Last year’s league game ended goalless, thanks to Riyad Mahrez’s late penalty miss:

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City misses a penalty

 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City misses a penalty during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in October 2018. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

The teams played at Anfield twice in 2017-18, with the first one ending City’s run of 30 undefeated league games:

Roberto Firmino of Liverpool

 Roberto Firmino of Liverpool celebrates the second goal in a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Anfield in January 2018. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

And the second going a long way to ending their Champions League chances (it was the first leg, but nobody gives away a 3-0 first-leg advantage, except Barcelona obviously):

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool

 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City at Anfield. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

And finally, on New Year’s Eve 2016, Liverpool’s win gave them renewed hope of catching the division’s runaway leaders, Chelsea:

Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum

 Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring the only goal in their home game against Manchester City in December 2016. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

And if that’s not enough, have a bit of this:

Updated

source: theguardian.com