Liverpool and Manchester City will go head to head in a blockbuster UEFA Champions League quarter final tie. Liverpool will be hoping to reach the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2008.

After the stress and nerves of waiting for the UEFA Champions League quarter final draw, it finally took place and the outcome would be that Liverpool would be welcoming the familiar face of Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team to Anfield for the first leg of the quarter final. The three other ties to be played will be:

Barcelona vs Roma

Sevilla vs Bayern Munich

Juventus vs Real Madrid

Manchester City were defiantly a team that Liverpool would have been looking to avoid at this stage of the competition, they would have most definitely been hoping that they could have been drawn against one of the so called ‘’Weaker’’ sides left , those teams being Sevilla and Roma. In the end the draw couldn’t have been any more ruthless for the Reds as they were drawn at home first so will not have the advantage of bringing Man City to Anfield for the second leg.

Manchester City will not be too pleased with the prospect of facing Jürgen Klopp’s men either, after all Liverpool were the first and only team to beat Manchester City in the Premier League so far this season, ending their 22-game unbeaten run in a breath-taking encounter at Anfield in January.

Manchester City are already clear favourites to overcome the Reds, leaving Jürgen Klopp’s and his men as the so called ‘’Underdogs’’. However, this is something that will suit Liverpool as they have had this tag time and time again especially in European games, with the most Famous game being the 2005 UEFA Champions League final.

Manchester City’s Anfield Misery

Manchester City’s woeful Anfield record since the start of the Premier League won’t give them any confiedence going into the first game of the Knockout tie. The Citizens have lost 15 of their 21 Visits to Anfield during the Premier League Era, having not won at Anfield in the Premier League for nearly 15 years, their last success being a 2-1 win in May 2003. There Last visit to Anfield Ended in a 4-3 Defeat in what was described as one of the games of the season with Liverpool at their scintillating best and producing another example of why they shouldn’t be taken lightly in this tournament.

Liverpool’s Etihad Record

Liverpool will be heading on the M62 straight to Manchester for the Second leg on April the 10^th, but just how have the reds performed on their most recent visits the Etihad? From the past 10 trips to the Etihad stadium Liverpool have lost 5, Drawn on three occasions and won twice with the most recent being a 4-1 in November 2015. Liverpool’s last trip to Manchester City came in September 2017 with Liverpool on the wrong end of a 5-0 Massacre, however you can argue that the game was not reflective of the two teams with Liverpool playing with 10 men for most of the game after Sadio Mane was controversial sent off for a challenge on Ederson. Liverpool will more than fancy themselves to get an away goal or two at the Etihad, with the attacking trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane showing City how clinical they can be with all three of them grabbing a goal in the 4-3 win in January.

Jürgen Klopp vs Pep Guardiola

Jürgen Klopp has faced Pep Guardiola 12 times and has 6 Victory’s, 5 losses and 1 draw. Klopp has the best record against Guardiola for mangers who have faced him 10+ times. They first faced each other as Mangers in the Bundesliga when Klopp oversaw Bourissa Dortmund and Guardiola had just taken over Bayern Munich. Their First meeting was a 4-2 Triumph for Jürgen Klopp’s side over Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup. The last meeting between the two in Germany saw Klopp’s Dortmund side beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the DFB-Pokal Semi Final. Klopp and Guardiola are regarded as two of the best managers of present time and are both known for playing they’re exciting and high energy style of play.

Another magic European night could be on the cards at Anfield when Manchester City come to town, Liverpool are in the strongest position they have been in for years and with a European cup Semi-Final up for grabs Liverpool wont go out without a fight. Anfield has got its Champions League Knockout nights back after nearly a decade since the last….. Lets hope it is another night to remember.