Arne Slot's side comfortably leads the Premier League, a staggering 15 points ahead of presumed title challengers, with City in fourth place.

They've shown signs of improvement recently, bouncing back from a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle, and will pose a tough challenge when the Reds head to Manchester.

Mohamed Salah fury, Arne Slot's joke about 115 Man City charges, referee apology	Virgil van Dijk hints at Darwin Nunez anger after open net miss costs Liverpool	Anthony Taylor's controversial Liverpool decision, Cody Gakpo anger, Arne Slot statement

The last time these two teams clashed in December 2024, it was a fiery affair, and Mirror Football revisits the incidents of that day, including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's fury, Slot's amusing post-match quip and an apology from the match official.



Salah's rage

Cody Gakpo put his side one goal up within 12 minutes when the two teams faced off at Anfield three months ago, and with little resistance and a barrage of home opportunities, Salah doubled that lead by scoring from the penalty spot in the 78th minute to wrap up the three points.

After the goal, which essentially sealed City's fate, Bernardo Silva - who famously refused to applaud during the Reds' Premier League guard of honour in 2020 - made a legal tackle on the match-winning Egyptian.

However, as the ball went out of play and Salah lay on the ground, Silva landed a subtle kick in the forward's direction, which didn't go down well.

Slot's lighthearted jab

After the match, Salah stayed in the spotlight by suggesting that the clash could be his 'last against City at home', hinting that his contract may not be renewed before its expiry in the summer.

"Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 [allegations] that are done, so he expects them not to be in the Premier League next season," Slot quipped before adding: "The boring answer is always the same.

The Dutchman conveyed his irritation, saying after the clash: "I was annoyed by the fact that he [referee Kavanagh] started the toss without me.

"I was busy with my mascot and obviously took a little bit of time, but he started the coin toss quite quickly, so I was a little bit annoyed by that because I think, just wait."

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