5 classic encounters - Liverpool vs Manchester City

Matchday 34 will witness what will in retrospect be a title decider as Premier League behemoths Liverpool and Manchester City lock horns at Anfield. Liverpoolarecurrently at the top of the table with 74 points and Cityare2 places adrift in3rd, having 2 games in hand. Both these sides have exhibited brilliant quality of football this season, amassing a whooping 174 goals between them.The most recent encounter between the sides saw the Manchester side triumph 2-1 on Boxing day after Liverpool took an early lead through a Skrtel header. Since then, 15 matches have been played with Liverpool losing only 1 and winning 12, thus taking control at the summit.A victory at this crucial juncture will firmly put that team intodriving seat as the Premier League is drawing to a close with only 6 matches remaining. As we get closer to the kick-off, we take a look at 5 classic encounters between the Reds and The Blues.

#1 Liverpool 4-2 Manchester City (FA Cup 5th round,2001)

City were relegated that season after finishing 18th in the league. However,this match was the one to remember.Mid-fielder Jary Litmanen opened the scoring for the Reds in the 7th minute from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Nicky Weaver hauled down Vladimir Smicer. 6 minutes later, Liverpool were 2-0 up, thanks to a clinical finish by Emile Heskey.

City winger Kanchelskis pulled one back for the Blues but goals from Smicer and Markus Babbel put the tie beyond City's reach making it 4-1. City, though refused to give up and a strike from Shawn Goater flew passed a hapless Westerveld, in injury time. That was still not enough for City to progress and they bowed out of the competition, 4-2.

#2 Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool (Premier League,2008)

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This season saw Liverpool finish 2nd in the league, behind champions Manchester United in what was,their best result in the competition.

Strikes from Ireland and Garrido gave City a deserved 2-0 at half time. But a brace from Fernando Torres restored parity for Liverpool in the 73rd minute. Dutchman Dirt Kuyt then scored the winner in injury time to make it 3-2 for the visitors, as City played with 10 men for the last 15 odd minutes when Zabaleta was shown a straight red in the 73rd minute for tackling midfielder Xabi Alonso.

#3 Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Premier League,2010)

Below-par Liverpool were handed an abject defeat on Matchday 2 by a spirited City after the hosts pulled off a 3-0 victory and the defeat saw Liverpool fall down the table to an embarrassing 17th. Gareth Barry broke the deadlock in the 13th minute to give The Blues an upper-hand.

The score-board remained unchanged until Tevez added another in the 51st minute from close range and finished off the scoring from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 to City after Skrtel hauled down the outstanding Adam Johnson.Liverpool saw their fans jeered at the final whistle as they were win-less in the opening 2 games of the season.

#4 Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City (Premier League, 2012)

The Reds endured one of the worst starts to the season in over a 100 years after going winless for the first 5 games, dropping to 18th in the process.

A draw against rivals Manchester City on Matchday 2 pulled Liverpool to 16th after Skrtel and Suarez were on target for the Reds. Defender Martin Skrtel put the hosts 1-0 up in the 34th minute before City's Yaya Toure struck to level the score at 1-1.

Uruguayan star forward Luis Suarez made it 2-1 for the hosts as the lead was later cancelled out by former Manchester United player Carlos Tevez rounding off the scoring by making it 2-2, leaving Liverpool with only a point in their opening 2 games.

#5 Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool (Premier League,2013)

After the tie at Anfield earlier that season ended in a 2-2 stalemate, defending champions Manchester City looked to make amends by going 1-0 up courtesy Edin Dezko's strike in the 23rd minute. A contested strike from Daniel Sturridge against his former club restored parity for his new club Liverpool, before talismanic captain Steven Gerrard made it 2-1 for the visitors.

Unfortunately, the Reds enjoyed the lead for only 5 minutes as the hosts responded to make it 2-2 through Sergio Aguero. The Argentine won a race for possession with Reina outside the area before defying all logic to find the net from what looked an impossible position and salvage a point for the hosts.