As Liverpool look to take down Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium for the first time in almost ten years, they will need everyone to be at their best.
Here are some special player performances often overlooked in previous meetings between the two juggernauts that helped the Reds get the job done.
Philippe Coutinho – 4-1, (21 November, 2015)
In what was shaping up to be a glaring mismatch, Jurgen Klopp’s misfiring Liverpool travelled to the Etihad to take on a Man City side who had won 12 of their last 13 Premier League home games.
But ever the man for the occasion, Brazilian maestro Phillipe Coutinho stepped up when his side needed him most.
Coutinho did well to dispossess Bacary Sagna, which in turn led to Elaquim Mangala’s disastrous attempt at a block being turned into his own goal to make it 1-0.
After some hard work from Roberto Firmino, he neatly set up his Brazilian counterpart for a first-time finish past a hapless Joe Hart to double the Reds’ lead.
Coutinho continued to run the show in Manchester, latching onto Emre Can’s backheel to assist Firmino for his first Premier League goal.
It was an undeniable performance from Liverpool’s number 10 and one that secured Klopp’s only victory at the Etihad in the Premier League, with the final scoreline ending 4-1.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 4-3, (January 14, 2018)
Eager to avenge their 5-0 drubbing in the reverse fixture, Liverpool were dealt an even tougher hand as they were made to do so without Philippe Coutinho, who had recently made the big-money move to Barcelona.
Up stepped Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made a driving run into the heart of the Man City defence and unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box to open the scoring.
Unwavering in his tenacity, Oxlade-Chamberlain produced a rounded performance in the centre of the park, producing a defence-splitting pass for Roberto Firmino, who shrugged off John Stones to make it 2-0.
The Englishman completed the most touches in the side (60), made the most blocks (5) and completed 5/6 take-ons.
His goal that evening made it his third of the campaign and remains one of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt, one worthy of condemning Pep Guardiola’s side to their first league defeat of their campaign.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s rich vein of form was epitomized by his performance against the would-be champions and one that is easily forgotten after his devastating cruciate ligament injury a few months later.
Alisson Becker – 1-0, (October 16, 2022)
After a false start to the season that saw both City and Arsenal saunter into the top two spots, a raucous Anfield awaited Pep Guardiola and his men.
In a contest that saw the Reds outclassed by City during large portions of the game, a pedestrian midfield and leaky defence left Alisson as the last port of call.
The Brazilian made six saves, the pick of the bunch being a show-stopping one-handed save from Erling Haaland’s strike.
Haaland was snuffed out by the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez but the Norwegian’s eyes lit up as he took on the shot in the box but Alisson’s defiance was a turning point in the game.
In the 75th minute, Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick was met comfortably by Alisson, who expertly picked out Mohamed Salah within seconds.
The Egyptian made light work of Joao Cancelo before firing Liverpool to victory in front of an ecstatic Kop.
It was a game-winning act from Alisson, whose shot-stopping is second to none in the Premier League but his distribution for the assist put his countryman Ederson to shame.
Dominik Szoboszlai - 2-0, (1 December, 2024)
Upon kick-off, it became alarmingly clear that the expert pressing of Ryan Gravenberch, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai overpowered City’s fragile midfield.
However, it was the latter who produced a statement display as Liverpool looked to define their title credentials against the holders.
Arne Slot’s double pivot imposed a superb press as a unit to stifle City but it was the Hungarian’s drive that helped Liverpool take the game to the visitors.
Szoboszlai had the most touches in the opposition’s attacking third (25), nine more than Trent Alexander-Arnold in second place.
He also created 4 chances, the most of any player in a red shirt and was cruelly denied an assist early in the first half after his pinpoint cross was headed onto the post by van Dijk.
While Gravenberch has looked fatigued as of late, Liverpool’s number 8 has kicked on over the past few weeks and a repeat of this performance at the Etihad will certainly help the Reds tighten their grip on the Premier League title.