Here is a look at the last time Manchester City beat Liverpool at Anfield, a ground they have always dreaded to visit, even under Pep Guardiola.

It’s that time of the year again. Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield, and it couldn’t have come at the worst possible time for Pep Guardiola’s men. The Cityzens are coming off a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord at the Etihad, a game which saw the former lead 3-0 until the 75th minute, only to blow it all in the last 15 minutes.

That’s not all, Manchester City are winless since late October after a 1-0 win over Southampton. Since then they have crashed out of the EFL Cup (against Tottenham), lost away to Bournemouth, hammered by Sporting CP 4-1 in the Champions League, lost a game they were leading against Brighton in the EPL, and crushed at their own backyard by Tottenham again.

5 straight defeats and a draw, Guardiola is looking down the barrel, hoping to revive the season. They find themselves 8 points adrift of Liverpool, the leaders. Ahead of their game at the Anfield, here is a look at the last time Manchester City defeated the Reds at this iconic stadium.

Manchester City were cruising to the 2020/21 EPL title

The match took place in February of the first-full lockdown EPL season, in 2021. City were already cruising to the EPL title, with only a whimper of a challenge from both Manchester United, Liverpool and maybe Chelsea.

The Cityzens went into the game as strong favorites, but history was completely against them. They had not won at the ground since 2003, a staggering 18 years. And Liverpool, hardly lose at their home ground.

The game sparked into life only in the second half

It was all square at the end of the first half, before Manchester City switched on right after the second half begun. Ilkay Gundogan gave the Cityzens the lead, but it was 1-0 only until the 63rd minute before Mohamed Salah equalized for Liverpool from the spot.

However, a last 20-minute carnage saw Manchester City blow away Liverpool, with a 1-4 away thrashing. Goals from Gundogan (brace), Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden made sure the Cityzens won at the ground for the first time in 18 years in the EPL.

Manchester City’s entire midfield that started that night is still a key part of the club

Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri and Bernardo Silva started for Manchester City that night, and the trio continue to start for them even today, albeit Rodri is out for the season due to injury.

The few players who started that night and are no longer a part of the club are – Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling. While Zinchenko and Sterling are at Arsenal, Cancelo and Mahrez ply their trade in the Saudi League.

Liverpool are a much changed side than the City side of 2021

Virgil van Dijk was out of the 2020/21 season due to injury. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were the center-backs that night. Fabinho is currently in the Saudi League, whereas Henderson who was a part of the Saudi League between 2023 and 2024, is now at Ajax.

In attack, both Sadio Mane and Firmino have moved to the middle-east, as is the trend now. Thiago Alcantara is now retired, and Georginio Wijnaldum plays in the Saudi League as well.

All you should know about what happened when the currently-struggling Manchester City and Feyenoord last faced

Manchester City are in dire straits right now. However, to possibly ease their misfortunes, they will be welcoming Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 group stage.

Coming off a 4-0 hammering at the Etihad against Tottenham Hotspur, City will look to put their torrid run back. This is first time in two decades that they have lost 5 games in a row (across all competitions). And no defending English champion has lost 5 games in a row since 1956 (Chelsea).

With a chance for their unwanted record to further worse, Pep Guardiola would, by all means, look to avoid a loss. To make things worse, City face high-flying Liverpool this weekend.

Ahead of their match against Feyenoord, we take a look at how things panned out when the two teams last faced. It was the group stage of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League.

Manchester City had drubbed Feyenoord 0-4 in the first fixture

Coming off a 0-4 win against Feyenoord in the away fixture, a similar scoreline was expected. However, it was not so. Although, Manchester City ended up winning the match, they need a late winner from Raheem Sterling to seal the deal. The game ended 1-0.

5 players who started that night still are an integral part of the club

Ederson was in goal for Manchester City that night. He is still their main goalkeeper, and was in his first season at the blue side of Manchester. Kyle Walker as well was in his first season at the club, and currently is the captain of the club.

In midfield that night were Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan who are still an integral part of the club, although Gundogan left to Barcelona for a year during 2023/24. Another player in the lineup was Bernardo Silva (another player in his first year at the club), who is still a regular starter. Goes to show how important the Cityzen’s core has been through the years.

In the wake of Pep Guardiola’s recent struggles, Manchester City XI was unrecognizable the last time they lost four games in a row

The world has not been used to what happened to Manchester City recently. Pep Guardiola’s team had never lost four games in a row since the legendary Spanish manager took charge. In fact, Guardiola had never lost four in a row in his entire managerial career.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s comeback win set the football historians working. It came to light that, Manchester City had never lost 4 games in a row in a staggering 18 years, 2 years before Sheikh Mansour’s take over. Even more baffling is the fact that the Cityzens were a below average team, at least until the turn of 2009.

The four losses in a row were split across two seasons, three games at the end of the 2005/06 season, and one game in the beginning of the next season (against Chelsea), and the manager was Stuart Pearce. Here, we take a look how Manchester City lined up when they last lost four games in a row.

GK – Nicky Weaver

The veteran Goalkeeper was nearly a decade into his time at Manchester City. He left the club at the end of that season. Weaver hung up his boots in 2014, after having last played for Aberdeen.

RB – Micah Richards

Big Meeks was just 18 back then. He was into his second season at Manchester City, and like Weaver, he was a part of the club for 10 years. He left to for Aston Villa in 2015, and announced his retirement in 2019, at only 31.

CB – Sylvain Distin

Although, the Frenchman rose to prominence at Everton, it was at Manchester City that Distin made the most league appearances. After 5 years at the club, Distin left City in 2007. He retired in 2016, having last played for Bournemouth.

CB – Richard Dunne

The no-nonsene Richard Dunne is a certified Manchester City legend. However, it was the era of his stay at the blue side of Manchester, that doesn’t earn him the flowers he deserves. After 296 league appearances for City, Dunne left for Aston Villa in 2009. He ended his career after two years at Queens Park Rangers in 2015.

LB – Ben Thatcher

Ben Thatcher was in his third season at Manchester City. It was the Welshman’s last season for the Cityzens. He hung up his boots in 2010, after having played for Ipswich Town, last.

CDM – Trevor Sinclair

Trevor Sinclair was quite a regular starter at Manchester City. He went on to play for them until 2007, before leaving to Cardiff City for a year. He last played for Lancaster City in 2015. However, he briefly came out of retirement to play a game for Squires Gate in 2018.

CDM – Joey Barton

Joey Barton is arguably the most controversial footballer ever. However, it was at Manchester City that Barton made most appearances in his career. Repeated disciplinary issues saw him moving across a number of clubs. He retired in 2017, having last played for Burnley.

CM – Claudio Reyna

Giovanni Reyna’s father was 33 during this match. He had joined Manchester City in 2003, and was a part of the club until 2007. After a year at New York Red Bulls in the 2007/2008 season, Reyna hung up his boots.

CAM – Ousmane Dabo

This game was Ousmane Dabo’s debut for Manchester City. The Frenchman made only 13 appearances in the league for the Cityzens. He then went on to play for Lazio and New England Revolution before announcing his retirement.

ST – Georgios Samaras

Georgios Samaras hadn’t hit his peak here. It was only after he left the EPL club, that his star-power rose. The Greek player joined Celtic in 2008, after leaving City, and went on to make 156 league appearances, scoring close to 50 goals. Samaras announced his retirement in 2018, when he was only 33.

ST – Bernardo Corradi

Bernardo Corradi also made his debut against Chelsea. Unfortunately, he was also sent off after a second yellow. The Italian just made 25 appearances for City, scoring only 3 goals. Corradi retired in 2012.