Liverpool star looking to maintain incredible record against Man City

Anfield, 4.30pm GMT on Sunday, will stage the 200th competitive meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City, and no individual narrative burns brighter than Mohamed Salah’s quest to extend a personal dominance that has become woven into the fabric of this modern rivalry. The Egyptian has had a hand in 15 of Liverpool’s last 20 Premier League goals against City—nine scored, six assisted—the most goal involvements any player has managed against a single opponent in the competition’s history.

That record is set against a backdrop of wider Liverpool supremacy at home. The Reds have lost only once in their last 22 league encounters with City at Anfield, winning 14 and drawing seven, and have won all eight of their February Premier League fixtures at the ground since 2022. Arne Slot’s team, unbeaten in six on Merseyside since Nottingham Forest’s November upset, have lost just one of their last 12 league matches, collecting five wins and six draws.

Salah’s influence is not limited to this fixture. His assist for Florian Wirtz against Newcastle was his 152nd Premier League goal involvement at Anfield, the highest tally any player has recorded at a single venue. Across all competitions since joining Liverpool, he has contributed more goals only against Manchester United.

Hugo Ekitike has provided fresh impetus. The 23-year-old French forward has 10 goals and two assists in 1,342 minutes—an involvement every 112 minutes—the best debut-season rate by a Liverpool player since Salah’s 2017-18 campaign. Ekitite reached double figures at 23 years and 225 days, the youngest Red to do so in a league season since Michael Owen in 2000-01. Cody Gakpo, two goals shy of a half-century for the club, offers another cutting edge.

City arrive with curious form: only one defeat in their last 12 league games, yet only one victory in their last six. Pep Guardiola’s side top Liverpool in goals scored, shots on target, shooting accuracy and conversion rate this season, but a stark split has emerged in 2026. City are the only Premier League side yet to concede in the first half of a league match this calendar year, scoring six before the interval themselves, yet they have failed to score after the break and have conceded six second-half goals. Erling Haaland has four goals in nine appearances against Liverpool, though only one came at Anfield—in October 2019 for Red Bull Salzburg.

Liverpool’s capacity to rally remains a hallmark; since the start of last season only three teams have earned more points from losing positions than their 28, while only Brighton have scored more goals when conceding first. With the 200th chapter of this rivalry poised to add fresh drama, Salah’s personal plotline promises to be decisive once again.