Liverpool host Man City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night. Here are the key stats and facts ahead of kickoff.
A European First
This will be the first time the clubs have met in European competition. City will be Liverpool’s 128th different opponent in Europe.
They are the only team in the last eight the Reds could have faced for the first time.
City will be Liverpool’s seventh English opponent in Europe following Leeds United, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United.
Quarter-Final History
Liverpool are playing at the quarter-final stage of this competition for the first time since 2009 when they went out to Chelsea 7-5 on aggregate.
It is their 24th European quarter-final and their 14th at this stage in the European Cup.
They are aiming to reach an 18th semi-final in European competition and their 10th in Europe’s premier competition.
At Anfield in the last eight the Reds have played 23 times, winning 19, drawing one and losing three times.
The defeats came at the hands of Genoa (1992), Celtic (2003)—both in UEFA Cup second legs and to Chelsea in a first leg Champions League game in 2009.
Record-Breaking Bobby
Roberto Firmino has scored eight goals in the Champions League this season, to set a new club record for the most goals in a single European Cup campaign.
The previous record of seven was achieved by Steven Gerrard (twice), Roger Hunt, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt. Mo Salah also has seven this season while Sadio Mane has six.
Should Firmino score he will equal the club record set by Dean Saunders of nine in a European season. He did so in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup campaign in just five appearances.
Suspension Alert
Two Liverpool players are a yellow card away from missing the second leg—Alberto Moreno and Jordan Henderson.
City would be without Danilo, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan for the second leg if any of them received a yellow card in this meeting.
Favourable Record
The Reds have lost only one of the last 19 European matches at Anfield and are unbeaten at home in the last 14, winning nine and drawing five.
Their last defeat in front of the Kop was also their biggest in Europe at home, beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in October 2014.
Liverpool have never lost a two-legged cup tie against City. They defeated their north-west rivals in the League Cup semi-finals of 1981 and 2012.
In both ties the Reds were drawn away from home in the first leg.
On 48 occasions that Liverpool have played a knockout first leg at home they have progressed 37 times.
Klopp’s Record
Jurgen Klopp has already faced City in the Champions League.
His Dortmund side were denied victory at the Etihad in the group stage in 2012/13 thanks to a 90th-minute Mario Balotelli penalty equaliser but won 1-0 in Germany with Gundogan in his team.
In 12 career meetings with Pep Guardiola, Klopp has recorded six wins with five defeats.
Ever-Presents
Only two Liverpool players have appeared in all 10 of the club’s European games this season—Firmino and Mo Salah.
Bernardo Silva is the only City player to appear in all eight Champions League games this season.
This Season’s Scorers
Liverpool: Salah (37), Firmino (23), Mane (15), Coutinho (12), Can (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (4), Alexander-Arnold (3), Sturridge (3), own goals (3), Henderson (1), Klavan (1), Lovren (1), Matip (1), Milner (1), Van Dijk (1), Wijnaldum (1)
Man City: Aguero (30), Sterling (21), Sane (13), Jesus (12), De Bruyne (11), D. Silva (9), B. Silva (7), Otamendi (5), Gundogan (4), Fernandinho (3), Stones (3), Danilo (2), own goals (2), Delph (1), Kompany (1)
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea.
Fan Comments