Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Fabinho (6)
Salah (13)
Mane (51)

FT
3 - 1
Premier League
16:30 Sun 10th Nov 2019
Location: Anfield
Manchester City crest
Manchester City

Bernardo Silva (78)

16:30 Sun 10th Nov 2019
16:30 Sun 10th Nov 2019 Anfield

Liverpool v Manchester City: Live matchday blog

Liverpool defeated Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield thanks to early goals from Fabinho and Mohamed Salah, along with Sadio Mane's second-half header.

Victory means the Reds sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of the November international break.

Post-match

Klopp's verdict in full

Read everything the boss had to say at his post-match press conference here.

Post-match

Klopp on meeting Seán Cox: "It was very nice. He was happy to see me and I was even happier to see him."

Post-match

Jürgen Klopp has arrived for his post-match press conference.

“If you want to win against Manchester City, you cannot play the way they play because they are the best at that. So we had to try and push through our way,” says the boss. 

“At the beginning it was wild - pressing, pressing, pressing, and intense from the first second. Both teams were ready to put a shift in and then we scored two incredible goals, and then we had to suffer a bit because of the way City play.”

Post-match

Trent and Robbo's reaction

Our full-backs spoke to Sky Sports immediately after the game.

Trent: "We're on a good run of form and still unbeaten, which is what we want to do. We want to be picking up the three points. We know at home we've got the advantage with the fans and that, so every time we're here we want to pick up the three points and feel as though we should. For us it's about keeping that momentum up, it's not about how other teams feel. We're just focused on ourselves and picking up as many as possible."

Robbo: "Look, it's a massive win against our closest rivals. Last year they beat us to the league and this year it looks like it's going to be the same, obviously there's other teams around and about us and we need to wary of all of them. But to play at big game like this at home and to get that result is massive for us."

Post-match

Guardiola on Liverpool's strengths...

"They are incredibly strong in the set-pieces, then when you sit back they have Alexander and Robertson building and then the mdfielders challenging for the second balls. It's almost impossible to defend. Then every attack you do, in transition, it's the biggest strength of Jürgen in his career."

Post-match

Pep Guardiola in his post-match press conference: "Today we showed in the most difficult stadium in the world the reason we are champions.

"It was a proud performance, congratulations to Jürgen and his fantastic team. It was a good game for the league, maybe they should buy me and Jürgen a bottle of wine for that!

"We tried, we did it, we cannot expect not to concede chances here. We created more than ever."

Post-match

Jürgen Klopp said on Friday that he hoped to meet Seán Cox this afternoon - and, as the heart-warming photo by our CEO Peter Moore below shows, the boss got his wish.

Brilliant stuff.

Full Time

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City

Get in!!!

Liverpool have beaten Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield and now sit eight points clear of second-placed Leicester City.

A powerful long-ranger from Fabinho and Mohamed Salah’s header put the Reds 2-0 up inside the opening 13 minutes at a raucous Anfield, with Sadio Mane’s diving header extending that lead further early in the second half.

Bernardo Silva pulled one back for the visitors late on, but the European champions withstood late pressure to secure a huge win.

Stick with us for all the post-match reaction from Anfield.

90+1

Four minutes added on...

87

Substitution

A third and final change for Liverpool.

Gomez is on for Salah.

84

As you'd expect, City are committing plenty of men forward in search of another goal but the Reds are keeping them at bay at the moment with Walker heading Angelino's cross over the bar.

79

Substitution

Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Firmino.

78

Goal

Silva pulls one back for City after a sustained spell of pressure from the visitors.

73

Patient, probing passing from the Reds nearly gets Milner in via a lovely ball from Robertson, but Stones stretches to turn it behind for a corner.

71

Substitution

A change for City. Jesus on for Aguero.

65

Sterling's appeals for a penalty are waved away and a VAR check confirms no spot-kick.

61

Substitution

A first sub for Liverpool sees Milner replace Henderson.

53

City seek an immediate reply and Sterling cuts in from the left and shoots, but Lovren's last-ditch challenge deflects the ball over.

51

GET IN, SADIO!!!

Henderson drives to the byline down the right and digs out a wonderful cross to the back post, which Mane converts with a diving header.

3-0!!!

51

Goal

MANE!!!

49

City win a couple of corners in quick succession, but they come to nothing.

46

Kick-Off

Liverpool, attacking the Kop end, restart the game.

Up the Reds!

Half-time

The Egyptian king

Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 52 goals in just 44 Premier League appearances at Anfield for Liverpool (38 goals, 14 assists).

Half-time

The story of that 45 minutes in stats...

Half Time

A high-tempo, high-quality first half ends with Liverpool 2-0 up thanks to early goals from Fabinho and Mohamed Salah.

Fabinho’s long-range missile opened the scoring after just six minutes, before Salah nodded in Andy Robertson’s inch-perfect cross with 13 minutes gone.

City have had their moments – Angelino striking the post before Alisson denied Aguero with a fine save – but it’s the Reds who are in control at the break.

 

45

Firmino rolls the ball to Salah, who attempts a curler from 20 yards that Bravo claws away.

We're into two minutes of added time.

45

Firmino rolls the ball to Salah, who attempts a curler from 20 yards that Bravo claws away.

We're into two minutes of added time.

42

City go close.

De Bruyne slips in Aguero, whose left-footed shot drags wide of the far post.

41

Salah needs treatment after a tackle by Fernandinho, but the No.11 is quickly back on his feet.

38

Breathtaking stuff from Alexander-Arnold, who brings down Alisson's pass superbly on the touchline then drives inside and deep into City territory before feeding Firmino.

The Brazilian shoots hard and low, but Bravo saves.

33

Liverpool emerge from City's best spell of the game so far and nearly add a third goal as Lovren glances Robertson's corner wide.

Then, on the break following a City corner, Firmino sells Walker a dummy and then toe-pokes over the bar from the edge of the area.

29

Angelino plays a neat one-two with De Bruyne and then sees his scuffed shot roll onto the outside of the post via a partial block from Lovren.

25

Great save, Alisson!

Aguero works an angle for a shot inside the box but our No.1 palms it away well.

21

More lovely football from Liverpool and Wijnaldum's shot is deflected wide by Fernandinho.

13

Stunning football from Liverpool!

Alexander-Arnold pings a cross-field pass to Robertson, who delivers a wonderful cross to Salah, who heads home brilliantly.

It sounds simple, but it was anything but. Three bits of world-class quality in quick succession from the champions of Europe.

2-0!

13

Goal

SALAH!!!

11

Caught your breath yet?!

The pace of this game in the opening stages has been unbelievable.

City have just spurned a decent chance to level, Aguero failing to get on the end of De Bruyne's dangerous cross from a free-kick.

6

WOW!!!

That is incredible from Fabinho, who drills an absolute rocket past Bravo from 25 yards to put Liverpool ahead.

1-0 to the Reds!

6

Goal

FABINHO!!!

5

City have started brightly here and another corner leads to Stones glancing a header off target. 

2

City win a corner early on, and Walker tries a shot from the edge of the box after it's partially cleared, but Salah makes the block.

1

Kick-Off

City get us under way.

The Reds are attacking the Anfield Road end in the first half.

Pre-match

The teams emerge from the tunnel to quite the noise.

There will be a minute's silence observed before kick-off on Remembrance Sunday.

Pre-match

The players have just finished their warm-ups and are now back in the changing rooms going through their final preparations.

Kick-off is just over 10 minutes away.

Pre-match

‘Liverpool will win 3-1’

That’s the prediction of Jan Molby, who is backing the Reds to make the most of home advantage in such a huge game.

“I think that the intensity, not only on the pitch but also in the stands, will be a little bit too much for City,” the Liverpool legend told us.

“They’ve got some really good players who will show how good they are, but some players in their team will feel the pressure and I think we will win 3-1.

“I think this is a game primed to kind of justify what we've been doing over the last two-and-a-half years. This is what you build up towards and I think it’s been heading that way, for us to not only catch up with City but also to possibly overtake them, and to do that you have to beat them. That was the one thing missing from last season, we failed to beat them in either of the games.

“So I think this is a game that the players will have had at the back of their minds. This is the kind of game that can not only define your season but could almost define your time as a Liverpool player.”

Pre-match

Wondering how the sides will line up this afternoon?

Well, Opta reckon they'll look like this...

Pre-match

Anfield arrivals

Pre-match

Inside the dressing room

Pre-match

In opposition

City team: Bravo, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Angelino, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Carson, Jesus, Silva, Mahrez, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden.

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

So, the big team news is in and it confirms five changes for Liverpool from the side that started the midweek win over Genk.

They see Dejan Lovren and Andy Robertson return in defence, while Jordan Henderson is back in midfield. Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane re-join Mohamed Salah in attack.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi.

Pre-match

The big man previews the big one...

Pre-match

We'll have confirmed team news for you here in around 15 minutes...

Pre-match

One win in the bag

Liverpool U23s have made it a positive start to the day for the club.

Rhian Brewster's late penalty sealed a 2-1 comeback win at Sunderland in the Premier League Cup.

Pre-match

‘I expect Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson to start’

There’s a lot of speculation surrounding Liverpool’s midfield today: will Jürgen Klopp stick to the Fabinho-Wijnaldum-Henderson axis, or might Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s form – and record against City – earn him a start?

Well, Reds legend Jan Molby expects the former, but with the caveat that Oxlade-Chamberlain could have a big role to play off the bench.

"I think Klopp knows exactly what the minimum requirement is of his midfield three and he knows that’s guaranteed with the three he’s going to play: Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum,” Molby told Liverpoolfc.com in Anfield’s press room.

"I think Ox will come on at some stage, he has to because he’s in red-hot form, but in this type of game it’s not what’s required from the first minute. You’re looking for something else that the other three have provided on a number of occasions, so I don’t expect the manager to make any changes in there."

Pre-match

Remembrance Sunday respects at Anfield

Pre-match

Lovren: Reds fans can make it 12 v 11

Dejan Lovren features in today's matchday programme and the centre-back explains the impact Liverpool fans can have on the contest with City.

"The crowd can always help us," says the No.6.

"Let's say the atmosphere against Tottenham was a push for us. They were unbelievable and kept pushing us when we were 1-0 down. It's definitely always 12 against 11 when the crowd is like that at Anfield and it's always been an advantage for us.

"We know it will be tough again against City but whichever opponent comes here knows that they will always have a difficult game.

"I'm not worried about the fans – I'm counting on them. It's more about us and what we do because the supporters know when we need a little push. It's another important game and we have to make sure we do what we need to."

Pre-match

Picture perfect

Anfield looking glorious this afternoon...

Pre-match

Stat

Between them, Liverpool and City have taken 260 of the last 303 points on offer in the Premier League.

Pre-match

The Trent and Robbo influence

Klopp discussed the importance of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson to his team's approach ahead of this game. See what he had to say in the video below.

Pre-match

*Weather update klaxon*

Here it is, folks. Your Liverpoolfc.com matchday blog weather information alert.

It's a bright morning around Anfield with clear blue skies but DO NOT be fooled by those scenes. It's still particularly cold, with the temperature struggling to get above six degrees.

Wrap up if you're heading to the stadium later. Trust us.

Pre-match

'Interesting' - Klopp's analysis

The Reds boss gave a detailed view of the tactical nuances involved with such big matches.

"You cannot be only offensive," he said. "But if you are not brave against Man City then you have no chance, not even for a point, so we have to be brave as well.

"You have to create. Your positioning must be nearly perfect, protection must be perfect. Movements, different ideas. It's really a lot in a game like this and in the end it's possible that it will be a 0-0 like it was here last year, but still with all the things again because that's football as well.

"We really try to adapt to the things the opponent is doing usually and try to make sure they cannot do that. That can always lead then to other things – like, you cannot be as creative, you cannot be as offensive.

"We all know, for being offensive you need a different formation and if you have this formation and you lose the ball, the other team can use that. Interesting football game."

Pre-match

Tale of the tape

Compare the numbers behind each team's Premier League season so far...

Pre-match

Henderson's City respect

In his matchday programme notes, the captain opens up on the rivalry with today's opponents and why it's a healthy one between the players on both sides.

He writes: "If I was to pick just one word to sum up how we as a squad feel about Manchester City, it would simply be: 'respect'.

"Of course they are an opponent we've had decent tussles with over the past couple of seasons in particular, both domestically and in Europe, but as a team here we have nothing but admiration for them.

"What they've achieved as a team is something that everyone in sport, let alone just football, can look at and appreciate. They are relentless winners who have found the hunger to go again and again.

"I think it's important for a healthy rivalry that you can recognise someone else's qualities and achievements without that leading to any sort of insecurity about what you're doing yourself."

Pre-match

Play LFC Foundation Lotto today

LFC Lotto gives fans the chance to win amazing signed Reds memorabilia, unique LFC experiences and huge cash prizes every Anfield matchday - with every draw this season featuring a shirt signed by the first team and a cap signed by Jürgen Klopp.

Subscribers will also be entered into a draw to meet the first-team squad at Melwood.

Fifty per cent of net proceeds from this season's LFC Lotto will specifically help fund LFC Foundation's Military Veterans programme and Men's Health projects.

Entries are from just £2 in stadium, or £5 online here.

Players must be aged 16+
BeGambleAware.org

Pre-match

Pep's preview

At his pre-match press conference, City boss Pep Guardiola was asked for his perception of the challenge visitors face when playing at Anfield.

"For me, as a manager, I said last season when we won the league it was the best contender I have ever faced in my career," he replied.

"To win the league was the biggest achievement or one of the biggest achievements we achieved as a club. It remains the same.

"Probably right now it is the strongest team in the world and you know what playing away at Anfield means for them and their rivals. But it's 90 minutes, or 94, and we're going to try to follow the plan we've thought in this game."

Pre-match

2018-19 meetings

There were two incredibly tight clashes between these two sides in the Premier League last season. See the highlights of the matches at Anfield and Etihad Stadium below.

Pre-match

Seán Cox to attend today

The club is looking forward to hosting Seán Cox and his family at Anfield for today's game.

It will mark the first time lifelong Liverpool supporter Seán has visited the stadium since he suffered serious injuries during an unprovoked attack ahead of the Champions League semi-final against AS Roma in April 2018.

"I hope that we can organise it so that I can see him for a couple of minutes before the game, I really want to," said Klopp on Friday.

"And because how the Liverpool community deals with it, I hope that he feels that we don't only sing You'll Never Walk Alone, we really live that."

Pre-match

Support foodbank collection

LFC is continuing its support of Fans Supporting Foodbanks this season.

Supporters attending today's game can drop off any non-perishable food donations at the foodbank collection points, which are located on Anfield Road, next to the club's Family Park, and inside the Anfield superstore on Walton Breck Road, as well as Homebaked bakery on Oakfield Road.

The Anfield Road collection point is open three hours before kick-off and remains open for 15 minutes after kick-off. Food can be dropped off at the Anfield superstore during its opening hours and at Homebaked before kick-off.

Some priority items include:

  • UHT milk
  • Long-life juice or cordial
  • Coffee
  • Jar pasta/curry sauce
  • Tinned meat
  • Tinned vegetables
  • Instant mash
  • Rice pudding/custard
  • Jam
  • Toiletries
  • Cup-a-soup/noodles
  • Washing tablets

All food collected will be donated to the North Liverpool Foodbank.

Pre-match

Salah: This is a special game

"It's a special game - a special game for City, for us, for everyone in the world," the Liverpool forward told Sky Sports. "Two of the best teams in the world."

Pre-match

Last time out

Liverpool come into this game on the back of a 2-1 home win against Genk in the Champions League.

Enjoy the story of that tie in Inside Anfield...

Pre-match

Stat attack

  • Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 45 Premier League games at Anfield, winning 35 and drawing 10 of those fixtures. The Reds have trailed for only 154 minutes in that time.
  • Klopp has beaten a Guardiola team eight times during his career, inflicting more losses on City's boss than any other manager. They have met on 17 occasions.

  • The Reds have won 23 and drawn five of their last 28 league games, with that undefeated run being the third-longest in the club's history. Their best was a sequence of 31 unbeaten, set between May 1987 and March 1988.
  • Mane has scored 17 goals in his last 16 Premier League starts at Anfield.
Pre-match

As it stands

Here's how the Premier League top six looks after Saturday's results...

Pre-match

Did you know?

Sadio Mane could make his 100th Premier League start for Liverpool today, while Jordan Henderson can clock up his 250th top-flight appearance for the Reds.

Pre-match

Our No.9 on the fans

Roberto Firmino stated how Liverpool can receive a boost on the pitch with vocal backing from those of a Red persuasion in the stands.

The Brazilian told Premier League Productions: "We already had good experiences here against City, in the Champions League and in the Premier League also, last year

“I hope our fans can be that extra player and that they can support us during the whole match. On the pitch, we will try to do our best and of course perform really well and win the match.”

Pre-match

Team news

The teamsheets will land at 3.30pm GMT but we do know already that Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson are fit for the game.

Klopp reported no fresh injury concerns within his squad on Friday afternoon.

Henderson has recovered from illness that ruled him out of the midweek Champions League tie with Genk, while there was no issue with Van Dijk.

Man City, meanwhile, are set to be without starting goalkeeper Ederson after he sustained an issue in midweek against Atalanta.

“He is not able to play,” Guardiola said. “We have another top ‘keeper, Claudio Bravo can do it too.”

David Silva is also a doubt as Aymeric LaporteRodrigoLeroy Sane and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all unavailable due to injury.

Pre-match

Inside Training

Our cameras were granted exclusive access to Liverpool's Thursday training session at Melwood. You can watch the best of the rain-swept workout in the video below...

Pre-match

Last time out in the PL

Watch how Liverpool made it 10 wins from 11 in the Premier League this term by dramatically securing a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa last weekend...

Pre-match

View from the opposition

Ahead of the clash, we caught up with a special Man City fan. Let Blossoms frontman Tom Ogden tell you about his heroes, prediction and how he'll be following the game from the USA by clicking here.

Pre-match

Main Mane

A sneak peek at the cover of the matchday programme...

Pre-match

Reds to show respect with poppy shirts

Liverpool will play in shirts embellished with poppies on Remembrance Sunday.

The team will sign their jerseys, worn to commemorate those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom, after the match and donate them to the Royal British Legion for auction to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.

Prior to kick-off, the teams will be led onto the pitch by Royal British Legion standard bearers Lyndsey Taggart and Eddie Flaherty, along with two service men from the Royal Navy - petty officer Michael T Bishop and leading hand Steve Haig, who will signal the minute's silence. 

The LFC Poppy Pin, which features the club crest and Royal British Legion Poppy, is on sale now in the LFC club stores at Anfield, Liverpool One and Williamson Square.

One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised from sale of the badge will go directly to the Royal British Legion.

Pre-match

Training gallery

Liverpool braved the elements on Thursday evening to continue their preparations for the encounter with Pep Guardiola's side. Go through 74 photos from the workout in the gallery below...

Pre-match

Key battles

So, where on the pitch is Sunday's match going to be won? We've had a go at assessing three individual matchups that could prove decisive. Click here to have a read.

Pre-match

Ox POTM

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for October yesterday. You can watch the midfielder collect the award at Melwood in the video below...

Pre-match

Fab chats

It's fair to say Fabinho was looking forward to this game when we sat down and spoke to him at Melwood earlier this week.

In particular, the Brazilian midfielder is relishing the opportunity of taking points off one of Liverpool's direct rivals.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's always good to go away on international duty on the back of a win. It gives us peace of mind while we are away from the club for a while on international duty.

"It will be fantastic and exceptional to open up a nine-point gap between us and other teams, but it will be a difficult game.

"We've been working hard for this game and we're doing everything we can so that we come into this game in the best possible condition. 

"I don't think the outcome last season was based on the results against Man City. But if we beat them then we will have a large points advantage over them which will be important for us.

"But this game is always a bit more special because we have the chance to pick up points and stop a direct rival from picking up points. So we're going to do all we can to win, but I'm not sure if this result will define the outcome of the season."

Pre-match

Missing Men

Our latest edition of Missing Men has a rather apt theme ahead of tomorrow's game. So, can you remember Liverpool's starting XI from the 3-2 victory over Man City at Anfield back in April 2014?

Click the graphic to reveal the answers.

Pre-match

Klopp's preview

Jürgen Klopp appeared in front of a packed media room at Melwood on Friday to conduct his pre-match press conference. Watch what he had to say in the video below...

Pre-match

Hello!

We're starting the live blog early ahead of Liverpool's much-anticipated showdown with Manchester City in the Premier League.

We'll be providing the best of the build-up from now right through to kick-off as two of the division's heavyweights square off at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Let's do this!