Liverpool v Manchester City – Head To Head

Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday, knowing that three point against their title rivals will cut the Merseysiders lead at the top of the table to just three points, while defeat will see City nine points adrift going into the international break. It’s what they really call a six-pointer.

The two teams have a growing rivalry, but what do the stats say about the history between these two sides? WARNING: If you are of a nervous disposition, DO NOT read any further.

Anfield – Not Exactly A Favourite Ground For The Blues

Most City fans know that Anfield isn’t exactly known as a happy hunting ground for City. It’s been 16 years since Nicolas Anelka scored twice on the red side of Liverpool to take City’s first three points since December 1981. The following seasons since Anelka’s double has seen City lose 12 and draw six of the eighteen matches played.

And before that match in 1981, which City won 3-1, you have to look back as far as 1956 for City’s previous win – 2-1 in an FA Cup tie, and 1953 for a league victory.

Blues cannot stop conceding

It is more than likely that Liverpool will score at Anfield on Sunday. Last season’s goalless draw was a one-off in terms of preventing the home side from scoring. The last time the blues kept a clean sheet at Anfield was a goalless draw in August 1986.

By comparison, over the same period, City have not scored in ten of those matches, not including last season’s match.

Can City change that stat on Sunday?

Record Victories – Yes We Do Have One

Despite our poor record at Anfield, City’s record win is actually 6-1, however this happened in October 1929. City also won 5-0 in March 1937 and again in October 1945, however the latter was in the North Region War League.

City’s heaviest defeat however, is much more recent. October 1995, City’s relegation season saw the blues thrashed 6-0 at Anfield.

But none of these games were in fact the highest ever score between these two. In October 1906, City and Liverpool shared nine goals between them, but despite scoring four on Merseyside, the blues conceded five in return.

Winless Runs – We Have A Few

There have been many seasons where we have failed to win at Anfield, but the period between August 1962 and December 1981 saw the longest winless run City have had at Anfield. 18 matches without winning, which includes losing 14 and drawing just four in a barren run that lasted 19 years.

There is a bit of good news though – City have an unbeaten run that stretched over five matches. The bad news? That run was between March 1908 and September 1912, when City won three and drew two, but it has happened!

November Blues For City

City have travelled to Anfield 12 times in the month of November, and have lost and drawn the same number of games combined that Liverpool have won. The hosts have won six, with City winning just twice in November, while four have been drawn.

The two teams have never met at Anfield on 10^tH November.

The stats are against us, injuries are against us and all signs point to a Liverpool win. Three points are coming our way aren’t they? We’ll see on Sunday.