Coutinho magic, Flanagan clatters Sterling, ‘El Nino’ the difference – Liverpool’s last 5 Anfield wins over Man City

Liverpool have turned on the style at home to Man City in recent years, with Citizens without a win at Anfield since 2003.

The two sides meet in a potentially breathless showdown on New Year’s Eve, with just one point separating them in the Premier League table.

With Chelsea comfortably clear at the top, both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola know dropping points at Anfield would be far from ideal.

This is a fixture that Liverpool have had the better of over the last decade – City haven’t won at Anfield since 2003 – with the Reds picking up some memorable victories along the way.

Here is a look at the last five.

 

Liverpool 3-0 Man City – March 2nd, 2016

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 2, 2016: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring the third goal against Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Three days prior to this game, City had prevailed over Liverpool on penalties in the League Cup final. A response was needed, and the hosts duly obliged. It may not have quite erased the pain of losing that final, but it certainly helped.

From the moment Jon Flanagan crunched into former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling – who else remembers Jordan Henderson‘s reaction to the tackle – you just sensed Klopp’s men wanted it more.

Adam Lallana, James Milner and Roberto Firmino all found the net in a relentless performance, with City pitiful from start to finish.

It summed up both their lingering sluggishness under Manuel Pellegrini, but also the force that Liverpool were becoming under Klopp.

“Boom!”

LFC XI: Mignolet, Flanagan, Toure, Lovren, Clyne, Henderson, Can, Milner, Firmino, Lallana, Origi.

 

Liverpool 2-1 Man City – March 1st, 2015

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson scores the first goal against Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

A year on from their epic win over City at Anfield – more on that shortly – Liverpool once again saw off their opponents from down the M62.

Prior to the game, it looked as though a top-four finish was possible for Brendan Rodgers’ Reds, following 10 games unbeaten in the Premier League, and a 3-4-3 formation working wonders.

A stunning strike each from Henderson and Philippe Coutinho inspired Liverpool to a richly-deserved win, and they followed it up with victories over Burnley and Swansea City.

The win over Swansea made it 13 unbeaten and took the Reds to within two points of fifth-place Man United, before their season fell to pieces.

Successive defeats to United and Arsenal were fatal in their top-four bid, and their campaign ended in humiliation at the hands of Stoke City, who won 6-1 at the Britannia Stadium.

LFC XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

 

Liverpool 3-2 Man City – April 13th, 2014

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 13, 2014: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the winning third goal against Manchester City with team-mate Jon Flanagan during the Premiership match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

If Liverpool had managed to get over the finish line back in 2013/14, this would go down as one of the greatest wins in the club’s history.

Let’s face it, it felt like the title was coming to Anfield after the Reds saw off City in dramatic fashion.

A stunning atmosphere helped blow Pellegrini’s men away in the opening 30 minutes, with Sterling and Martin Skrtel finding the net.

City fought their way back to 2-2 in the second-half, only for Coutinho to fire home a brilliant winner late in the day.

Henderson’s sending off in dying seconds didn’t affect the result, but the current captain’s absence was really felt in the subsequent horror-shows against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

We should always treasure that afternoon, even if the holy grail didn’t come Liverpool’s way in the end. It was the 10th of 11 wins on the spin – a magnificent effort.

LFC XI: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez.

 

Liverpool 3-0 Man City – April 11th, 2011

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 18, 2012: Liverpool's Andy Carroll in action against West Bromwich Albion during the opening Premiership match of the season at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

2010/11 will never be a season that jumps out at Liverpool supporters, even if Kenny Dalglish gloriously returned as manager halfway through it, following Roy Hodgson’s shocking tenure.

The Reds eventually finished the campaign sixth in the Premier League, and their routine win over City was a rare commanding performance.

Even more surprising on the night was the impact of Andy Carroll, who at £35million, has to go down as possibly Liverpool’s biggest ever transfer flop.

The towering striker was in inspired form against City, scoring a thumping finish and a bullet header, while Dirk Kuyt also got in on the act.

It wasn’t a win that felt as encouraging or important as those mentioned above, but it was yet another example of City being seen off at Anfield.

LFC XI: Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Spearing, Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll.

 

Liverpool 1-0 Man City – May 4th, 2008

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 30, 2008: Liverpool's Fernando Torres celebates scoring the only goal of the game against Everton during the 207th Merseyside derby, in the Premiership match at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It is very easy to forget just how magnificent Fernando Torres was at his peak.

His move to Chelsea dented his reputation, and injuries took an edge off his game well before he was 30, but he could be unplayable.

‘El Nino’ was the best striker in the world when City came to town on the final home game of 2007/08, and he was once again the difference at Anfield.

In truth, it wasn’t a game with a huge amount riding on it – Champions League qualification had already been guaranteed – but Torres’ neat finish saw them sign off with a home win.

The Spaniard made Richard Dunne look like a pub player when he drifted past him for the goal – maybe Dunne was simply a pub player, thinking about it.

LFC XI: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres.

More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments