A Top of the Table Rivalry – Man City vs Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium Let’s take a look back at what is now a stand-out fixture in the football calendar, where there’s history, heroics, and plenty of drama. Join us as SportsBreaks explores the history, intense fan rivalry and a selection of the unforgettable matches that have defined this fixture throughout the ages. Manchester City v Liverpool – The Rivalry With just 35 miles separating the two cities, this fixture has a rich history and is always a one-to-watch for fans. But it wasn’t always the tight top-of-the-table affair it has come to be in recent years… Manchester City started life under the name St. Mark’s (West Gorton) in 1880, established by the Church in a district of Manchester. They underwent a name change in 1887, becoming Ardwick Association Football Club, and it was not until 1894 that the name Manchester City Football Club was born. Liverpool FC played its first game in 1892 and won its first league title in the 1900–01 season. The club is a footballing juggernaut and is the most successful English team in European football tournament history. The Reds have also won the English top-division league title 19 times. The two teams fist went head-to-head for the title in 1976/77 when Liverpool finished one point ahead of their challengers to lift the trophy. The Merseyside team are well clear in the total head-to-head stats, but it’s been a very different spectacle since City’s rise in the mid-noughties. In recent seasons, the fixture has brought two of the football’s most influential managers, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, together for intense competition. Their rivalry has produced moments of drama and wonder for fans of both sides. The Lions’ tours provide a unique opportunity to see some of the world’s best rugby talent play together, creating an exhilarating blend of rivalry and camaraderie among the nations of the British Isles. This tradition has not only shaped rugby’s history but also contributed to the sport’s cultural heritage, with every tour adding to the legacy of epic contests, unforgettable moments and a fierce pride in wearing the iconic red jersey. The Early Life of Etihad Stadium By the early 20th century, the matches between the two had become major events for the local communities. Manchester City’s move from the historic Maine Road to the state-of-the-art Etihad Stadium in 2003 marked a new chapter in the club’s history. Initially built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the stadium – then known as the City of Manchester Stadium – boasted a capacity of 41,000, later expanded to over 53,000. This venue soon became a fortress for City, especially after it was renamed the Etihad Stadium in 2011 following a lucrative sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways. The move signalled Manchester City’s ambitions to become not just a local powerhouse, but a global footballing giant.