Alex MacQuoid
The Reds host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Anfield this Sunday at 4:30pm GMT in what promises to be another chapter in one of English football’s most captivating modern rivalries. Here’s a detailed statistical preview and historical perspective on this heavyweight clash.
Historic Overview
This fixture marks the 200th meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City in all competitions. The Reds hold a commanding advantage with 95 wins to City’s 53, along with 51 draws. Liverpool’s dominance at Anfield continues to define this rivalry — they’ve lost only once in their last 22 Premier League home games against the Citizens (W14, D7, L1).
Since 2022, Liverpool have also been flawless in February home fixtures in the league, winning all eight during that period. Slot’s men are unbeaten in their last six at Anfield, continuing the fortress mentality that has characterized this era of the club.
Current Form and Records
Arne Slot’s Liverpool have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League fixtures (W5, D6), while Pep Guardiola’s City have won only one of their last six league matches despite remaining unbeaten in their previous 12 overall (W7, D4, L1).
City’s statistical quirks this year are remarkable: they’re the only Premier League side in 2026 yet to concede a first-half goal — scoring six — but also the only team not to score after the break, conceding six in the second halves of games.
Key Player Stats
- Hugo Ekitike has scored or assisted every 112 minutes in the Premier League this season — the best debut-season ratio for a Red since Mohamed Salah in 2017-18.
- At 23 years and 225 days, Ekitike is Liverpool’s youngest player to hit double digits in a league campaign since Michael Owen in 2000-01.
- Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 15 of Liverpool’s last 20 Premier League goals against Manchester City (9 goals, 6 assists).
- Salah has contributed to 21 goals in all competitions against City — only versus Manchester United (22) has he been more prolific.
- His assist for Wirtz versus Newcastle was his 152nd Premier League goal involvement at Anfield, a competition record for a single venue (107 goals, 45 assists).
- Cody Gakpo is two goals away from reaching 50 for Liverpool in all competitions.
- Erling Haaland has scored four times in nine appearances against Liverpool but only once at Anfield, back in 2019 with Red Bull Salzburg.
- Antoine Semenyo has scored three league goals against Liverpool — all at Anfield — and could become the first player ever to score against the Reds for two different sides in a single Premier League season.
Modern Rivalry: Slot vs Guardiola
Though their modern rivalry began in the mid-2010s, the Liverpool–Man City battles have reached new heights since the Guardiola–Klopp era, now carried forward under Arne Slot. Since 2017-18, the two clubs have monopolized English football, winning every Premier League title between them, three of the last eight FA Cups, and six of the last eight EFL Cups.
Together, they’ve also set six of the eight highest Premier League points totals since the 38-game format began in 1995. Individually, players from both sides have dominated awards — each Premier League Player of the Season and PFA Player of the Year since 2017-18 has come from Liverpool or City, with every Manager of the Season title shared between Klopp and Guardiola.
Guardiola has described the rivalry as a “beautiful battle”, while Klopp once called the Catalan his “greatest rival ever.” That legacy now lives on through Slot and Guardiola — two tacticians aiming to define the next phase of this epic English rivalry.
- Also read: Liverpool vs Manchester Manchester Predicted Lineups: Slot vs Guardiola Tactical Breakdown
Head-to-Head Breakdown (All Competitions)
| Competition | Played | Liverpool Wins | Draws | Man City Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 57 | 23 | 21 | 13 |
| First Division | 118 | 59 | 25 | 34 |
| Second Division | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| EFL Cup | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| UEFA Champions League | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Shield | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 199 | 95 | 53 | 51 |
Last 10 Premier League Meetings
| Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 09, 2025 | Man City 3–0 Liverpool | Premier League |
| Feb 23, 2025 | Man City 0–2 Liverpool | Premier League |
| Dec 01, 2024 | Liverpool 2–0 Man City | Premier League |
| Mar 10, 2024 | Liverpool 1–1 Man City | Premier League |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Man City 1–1 Liverpool | Premier League |
| Apr 01, 2023 | Man City 4–1 Liverpool | Premier League |
| Oct 16, 2022 | Liverpool 1–0 Man City | Premier League |
| Apr 10, 2022 | Man City 2–2 Liverpool | Premier League |
| Oct 03, 2021 | Liverpool 2–2 Man City | Premier League |
| Feb 07, 2021 | Liverpool 1–4 Man City | Premier League |
Rivalry in Context
From their first league meeting in 1893 to the tactical duels of Klopp and Guardiola, the Liverpool–Manchester City rivalry has evolved into a benchmark of elite football. City’s financial might and Guardiola’s philosophy reshaped the club, while Liverpool’s tactical discipline and Anfield spirit kept the contest fierce and balanced.
As Sunday’s clash approaches, both sides are again at the summit of English football — driven by legacy, fueled by ambition, and separated by the finest of margins. Expect fireworks at Anfield.