Liverpool and Manchester City will meet at Anfield without Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola in the dugouts.
The last clash between the two sides before their respective eras began occurred on March 1, 2015. Back then, Liverpool claimed a 2-1 victory under Brendan Rodgers, with magnificent efforts from Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho sealing the win.
At that time, Liverpool were pushing hard for a Champions League spot, while Manchester City were defending their title after winning it in the 2013/14 season. Manuel Pellegrini was at the helm for the Manchester club.
Different objectives ahead of the encounter
This season was proving tricky for Liverpool. After finishing second in the previous campaign, they had lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona, and Daniel Sturridge's injury issues made it even harder to replace his goals.
Additionally, the Merseysiders failed to progress from their Champions League group. However, by early March, Rodgers' side was finding form, frequently deploying a 3-4-3 system that allowed Coutinho and Adam Lallana freedom between the lines, while Raheem Sterling thrived in attack.
Before the match, Liverpool sat fifth with 48 points after 27 games, just two points behind Manchester United in fourth place. City were in second with 55 points, five behind leaders Chelsea, who had a game in hand.
The hosts had little time to recover from their midweek European tie. On February 26, they faced Besiktas in the Europa League, crashing out on penalties after a 0-1 defeat in the second leg. They returned to England early Friday morning, leaving limited time for preparation.
With Steven Gerrard sidelined due to injury, the captaincy was entrusted to Jordan Henderson. Coutinho and Lallana operated just behind Sterling, while Sturridge and Mario Balotelli started on the bench.
For City, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko led the attack, supported by creative talents such as David Silva, Samir Nasri, and Yaya Toure.
Henderson opens the scoring with a brilliant strike
Liverpool began the match with great intensity despite their fatigue from Europe. Just 11 minutes in, Coutinho dispossessed Vincent Kompany, sparking an attack that involved Sterling and Henderson.
The Liverpool captain drifted into the centre, outwitted Fernandinho, and curled a stunning shot into the top corner, leaving Joe Hart with no chance – Anfield erupted with joy.
City almost hit back immediately, with Aguero striking the inside of the post. However, on 25 minutes, the visitors equalised. Silva found Aguero, who laid it off for Dzeko to tap in from close range.
The teams went into half-time at 1-1. After the break, Liverpool continued to create dangerous opportunities, with a Lallana goal controversially ruled out and Coutinho constantly troubling the City defence.
Coutinho secures victory in the 75th minute
The crucial moment came in the 75th minute. Coutinho drifted in from the left and unleashed a fantastic shot from outside the box, striking at pace into Hart's goal – the City keeper couldn't get a hand to it.
In the closing stages, Liverpool held on to their lead, sealing a 2-1 victory. The match at Anfield was witnessed by 44,590 spectators.
For Coutinho, this was his second crucial goal against City, having scored the winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory in April 2014 during the previous title race.
This loss marked yet another disappointing result for Pellegrini's side at Anfield; they hadn’t triumphed there in their last 13 outings across all competitions.
How the season concluded
The victory solidified Liverpool's position in the race for the Champions League, while Manchester City trailed Chelsea by five points, albeit with a game played more.
Ultimately, neither side achieved their primary goal for the season. Chelsea claimed the Premier League crown with 87 points, finishing eight clear of City, who ended up third. Liverpool finished the season sixth.
Not long after, the dynamics of the rivalry began to change with managerial shifts. Brendan Rodgers departed Liverpool on October 4, 2015, after a 1-1 draw with Everton, and just four days later, Klopp was announced as his successor.
The teams met again on November 21, 2015, at the Etihad, where Liverpool triumphed 4-1, and Pellegrini was still in charge of City at that time.
Pep Guardiola took over the Manchester club in the summer of 2016 after three successful seasons with Bayern Munich. Prior to that, he had faced Klopp in Germany when the Spaniard was with Bayern and the German managed Borussia Dortmund.
The Klopp and Guardiola era
The rivalry between the two managers became a central narrative in English football. Their teams frequently vied for the title, with outcomes determined by the slimmest of margins.
In the 2018/19 season, Manchester City amassed 98 points, edging out Liverpool, who finished with 97. The following year, the Merseysiders responded with a championship season featuring 99 points, ending a 30-year wait for the top-flight title.
This confrontation also gifted fans unforgettable matches in the Champions League and competitions for domestic trophies.
Now, for the first time in many years, we have this matchup without Klopp and Guardiola at the helm. The upcoming encounter at Anfield marks a new chapter in a storied rivalry that predates both managers, filled with memorable goals, title pursuits, and thrilling nights of football.
