Manchester City face off against Liverpool this Saturday at the Etihad. Heading into the game City sits top of the Premier League with a one-point lead over second-placed Liverpool. The two teams have combined to win the last six Premier League titles. Though it is lopsided with Manchester City winning five Premier League titles, and Liverpool winning their lone title in the 2019/20 season. Will Saturday’s clash see the next chapter begin of a rivalry that saw two of the most epic title races in Premier League history?
Last season saw contrasting fortunes for the two sides. Manchester City set about making history and went on to claim the treble. Meanwhile, Liverpool slipped to 5th in the Premier League and finished the season without a trophy. Instead, City battled it out with Arsenal for the 22/23 Premier League crown. City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool at the Etihad last April did feel like the end of their epic rivalry. This season however has seen Liverpool look like the side that pushed Pep Guardiola’s in season’s 2018/19 and 2020/21 where Manchester City prevailed in epic title races by a point on both occasions.
Liverpool have rebuilt in their squad in a bid to catch Manchester City. They let stalwarts Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Fabinho depart in the summer. They were replaced with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis MacAllister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo to refresh Jurgen Klopp’s side. They do resemble the side that pushed the European champions so hard for so long. City meanwhile has picked up where they left off from last season’s treble success.
When the game kicks off on Saturday at the Etihad it does feel that it could be the beginning of the next chapter of the club’s recent rivalry.
