Liverpool welcome Leicester City to Anfield on Saturday and the Reds have a good record in recent years when they’ve hosted the Champions.
This weekend’s clash could be a memorable occasion, with a new-look Anfield set to make for a thrilling atmosphere and high levels of expectation.
Leicester arrive in Liverpool as possibly the most unlikely champions in the history of English football, and they have shown this season that they are not ready to go away just yet.
It will be a huge gauge of where both the Reds and the Foxes stand this season, with victory for either side a real statement of intent.
Liverpool have had mixed fortunes when the champions have come to town in recent years—here’s a look at how the last five occasions have panned out.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea – May 11, 2016
Few teams have made such a poor defence of their title than Chelsea did last season, with Jose Mourinho’s 2014/15 champions falling to pieces as the weeks and months progressed.
The Blues visited Anfield in the penultimate game of the campaign, in a clash that had almost nothing riding on it.
Eden Hazard, who had endured a woeful campaign after winning the PFA Player of the Year award a year earlier, scored a superb solo effort in the first half, and it looked as though it would be the game’s only goal.
In the dying seconds, however, Asmir Begovic failed to deal with a routine cross from Sheyi Ojo, and Christian Benteke was on hand to head home in front of a relieved Kop.
With the new work on the Main Stand delaying Liverpool’s return to Anfield until Saturday, that Benteke goal remains the most recent to be scored there.
Liverpool 2-1 Man City – March 1, 2015
Having lost out agonisingly to Man City in the 2013/14 title race, Liverpool were out for revenge when Manuel Pellegrini’s team visited Merseyside in March 2015.
Brendan Rodgers’ Reds produced one of their best performances in a disappointing season, and richly deserved all three points on the day.
Jordan Henderson thundered home a magnificent strike to give Liverpool an 11th-minute lead, only for Edin Dzeko to equalise later on in the half.
With the match heading towards a draw, Philippe Coutinho produced a piece of typical long-range magic, curling home majestically from the left-hand edge of the penalty area with 15 minutes left.
At that point, it looked as though a top-four finish was more than achievable for Liverpool, before things unravelled in the last two months of 2014/15.
Liverpool 1-0 Man United – September 1, 2013
With Alex Ferguson ending his 26-year stay at Man United in the summer of 2013, the Red Devils arrived at Anfield in September with former Everton manager David Moyes at the helm.
Having won 1-0 in their first two games of 2013/14, against Stoke City and Aston Villa, Liverpool repeated the feat in front of an ecstatic Anfield.
The only goal of a tight contest came after just four minutes, as Daniel Agger’s header was turned in by Daniel Sturridge from close range.
It was the perfect way for the striker to celebrate his 24th birthday, and Liverpool never looked under too much pressure.
The rest of the campaign was a glorious one for Reds supporters, who not only witnessed their own team playing some sensational football, but also saw United fall apart under Moyes.
Liverpool 2-2 Man City – August 26, 2012
Nobody will ever forget the manner in which City clinched the 2011/12 title, and when they came to town early on the following season, it was a perfect test of how Liverpool looked under new manager Rodgers.
The Reds were very impressive from start to finish—the general consensus was that they were unfortunate not to pick up all three points.
Martin Skrtel powered a trademark header past Joe Hart to give his side a half-time lead, before Yaya Toure made the most of some sloppy Liverpool defending to equalise midway through the second half.
Luis Suarez was an increasingly unstoppable force by this point, and his inch-perfect free-kick restored the Reds’ lead, only for Carlos Tevez to pounce on an awful Skrtel backpass to earn City a point with 10 minutes remaining.
Liverpool 1-1 Man United – October 15, 2011
Clashes with United will forever be dramatic, emotional affairs, and this meeting back in October 2011 was no different.
Having missed a sizeable chunk of action with a groin injury—he was making his first start since April—Steven Gerrard played a key role, as was so often the case against United.
The legendary captain’s free-kick found its way past Edwin van der Sar after 68 minutes, but unfortunately, the visitors responded late in the day.
Javier Hernandez fired home from a corner to send the travelling fans delirious, as both sides eventually left Anfield with a point apiece.
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