Brawls, nine-goal thrillers, hat-tricks and four-goal salvos: 10 classic Liverpool-Leeds battles – in pictures

Jurgen Klopp's Premier League champions take on the newly promoted Leeds managed by Marcelo Bielsa

August 10, 1974 - Leeds United 1 (Cherry 70') Liverpool 1 (Boersma 19'). Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties: The Charity Shield, now called the Community Shield, is generally a gentle curtain-raiser to the new English top-flight season. But this infamous, bad-tempered game, the first Charity Shield to be held at Wembley Stadium, will always be remembered for the brawl after an hour between Liverpool's Kevin Keegan and Billy Bremner of Leeds. Keegan had actually been floored by a punch by Johnny Giles but took out his frustrations on the first person he saw after picking himself up off the floor. That player was fiery Scot Bremner. Both players would end up removing their shirts after being sent-off. Both were fined and banned for 11 games by the Football Association. Shutterstock

April 13, 1991 - Leeds United (Chapman 68', 81' & 88'; Shutt 77') 4 v Liverpool 5 (Houghton 11', Molby pen 16', Speedie 25', Barnes 28' and 79'): An epic, if ludicrous, game in the old First Division at Elland Road saw Liverpool leading 4-0 by the half-hour mark before a remarkable late fightback by Leeds. Liverpool and England winger John Barnes was in majestic form, scoring two and assisting with another couple, while striker Lee Chapman's quickfire hat-trick nearly earned the home side an unlikely point. Liverpool, who had Ronnie Moran as caretaker manager after Kenny Dalglish quit two months earlier, would finish second in the league, two places ahead of Howard Wilkinson's Leeds. Getty

August 8, 1992 - Leeds United 4 (Cantona 26', 77' & 87'; Dorigo 43') Liverpool 3 (Rush 34', Saunders 65', Strachan og 89'): Another Charity Shield between the two teams, but this one was memorable for all the right reasons as the new Premier League era was introduced in fine style. Charismatic French striker Eric Cantona cracked a brilliant hat-trick for the reigning champions to peg back Graeme Souness' Liverpool who had twice fought back from a goal down to level at 2-2. Gordan Strachan's late own goal made it a nervy finish but Leeds would hold on for the victory at Wembley. Cantona would score the first Premier League treble, against Tottenham that same month, but his frustration at failing to command a regular place in the starting XI and the direct tactics of manager Howard Wilkinson would see him join Manchester United for the paltry fee of £1.2 million in November. Getty

January 20, 1996 - Liverpool 5 (Ruddock 27' & 90', Fowler pen 62' & 68', Collymore 89') Leeds United 0: Roy Evans' free-scoring side put Leeds to the sword at Anfield in the Premier League. Defender Neil Ruddock would grab the first and last goals, with prolific strike-pairing Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore scoring the others. Liverpool finished the campaign third behind Manchester United and Newcastle, while Leeds would languish down in 13th and manager Howard Wilkinson's eight-year reign would be over by September. PA

February 19, 1997 - Liverpool 4 (Fowler 21', Collymore 36' & 37', Redknapp 87') Leeds United 0: Another battering for Leeds at Anfield with Fowler and Collymore again inflicting the damage. The dynamic duo put Liverpool three up before the break, with Collymore scoring two in as many minutes. Jamie Redknapp put the icing on the cake with three minutes to go as Liverpool finished the season fourth, but missed out on second-place and the Champions League by goal difference. Leeds, under George Graham, ended the season 11th. Getty

November 14, 1998: Liverpool 1 (Fowler pen 68') Leeds United 3 (Smith 79', Hasselbaink 81' & 86'): After a miserable run against the Merseysiders that had seen them lose six and draw one of the last seven matches in all competitions, Leeds finally came out on top after a late goal flurry at Anfield. A Robbie Fowler penalty, after Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn nearly decapitated Karl-Heinz Riedle, looked to have put Liverpool on the road to another win. But David O'Leary was assembling a strong Leeds side and three goals in seven minutes, including a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink double, turned the game on its head. The Yorkshire club would finish the season fourth, three points and three places ahead of Gerard Houllier's Liverpool. Getty

November 4, 2000: Leeds United 4 (Viduka 24', 47', 73' & 75') Liverpool 3 (Hyypia 2', Ziege 18', 61'): A classic Premier League battle that Liverpool fans must still wonder how they ended up losing. There is a simple reason for that: Mark Viduka. A four-goal blast from the Australian striker denied Houllier's side that had been leading 2-0 and 3-2 and heading for a sixth-straight victory. "We have no-one to blame but ourselves," said Houllier after the match. "We got lucky," admitted Leeds manager O'Leary. This would still be a fantastic season for Liverpool, though, who would finish third in the league to pip Leeds for a Champions League spot and also seal a memorable cup treble by winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup. Getty

April 13, 2001: Liverpool 1 (Gerrard 54') Leeds United 2 (Ferdinand 4', Bowyer 33'): Leeds completed the double over their league rivals with an impressive performance at Anfield where first-half goals from Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer put them firmly in the driving seat. Steven Gerrard pulled Liverpool back into it just after the break but the midfielder would later be shown a second yellow card that allowed Leeds a relatively stress-free final 20 minutes. But not only would Liverpool have the last laugh by grabbing the last Champions League spot, but this would represent Leeds' last victory over the Reds in any competition. Allsport

February 3, 2002 – Leeds 0 Liverpool 4 (Ferdinand og 17', Heskey 61' & 63', Owen 90'): A disastrous result and performance for Leeds in what would turn out to be a catastrophic season in the club's history. Rio Ferdinand, who had opened the scoring when the teams met 10 months earlier, could only find his own net this time round. Emile Heskey, who had been struggling for goals all season, managed a double, while Michael Owen's fourth goal in injury time put the icing on the cake for Liverpool. The Reds would finish the season second behind champions Arsenal, while Leeds' failure to reach the Champions League meant the club could no longer afford to sustain the huge amount of debt wracked up on transfer fees and wages in previous seasons. What followed in the next few seasons was barely believable: the fire sale of star players, relegation down to the third-tier, administration and nearly being expelled from the Football League. Getty

February 29, 2004 – Leeds 2 (Bakke 29', Viduka 34') Liverpool 2 (Kewell 21', Baros 42'): The last top-flight meeting between the two clubs was a pulsating game at Elland Road. All the goals came in the first half as Harry Kewell opened the scoring against his former club with a curling finish. Two goals in five minutes - from Erik Bakke and Mark Viduka - put Eddie Gray's team ahead only for Milan Baros to restore parity. A point for Leeds but the loss of a host of star players in the impossible job of balancing the club's books would prove too much. They were relegated after finishing second bottom and would not return to the Premier League until 2020. Getty

Saturday sees two of English football's most famous teams go head-to-head at Anfield when Liverpool take on Leeds United.

It seems quite remarkable that the last time these clubs met in the Premier League was more than 15 years ago.

The financial meltdown caused by catastrophic over-spending at the turn of the new millennium would result in Leeds dropping down the divisions and almost go out of business.

The rebuilding process has been long and painful, but after years of trying, the Yorkshire club are finally back in the top-flight, led by their unorthodox and much-admired Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola describes Bielsa as "absolutely at the top of the list" of football coaches, while Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp has called the 65-year-old "an outstanding coach, an outstanding role model".

The Merseysiders, meanwhile, have just ended a 30-year English title drought after winning the Premier League by a mammoth 18-point margin over City in a season that only ended in July after a Covid-19-enforced hiatus.

Ahead of Saturday's game, we are taking a look back at 10 classic clashes between the two clubs in the photo gallery above.

To move on to the next picture, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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Liverpool 2019/20 season ratings

LIVERPOOL 2019/20 RATINGS: Jurgen Klopp - 9 out of 10: The likeable German deserves huge credit for overseeing the best start to any season by any team and delivered a first league title to Anfield in 30 years. Late goals were a feature of this Reds team often inspired by the manager's substitutions. PA

GOALKEEPERS: Alisson - 8: A campaign disrupted by injury but the Brazilian kept 10 clean sheets in 20 matches before the coronavirus-enforced shutdown, and another two since the restart. Continues to enhance his reputation as one of the world's best. Getty

Adrian - 6: The Spaniard endeared himself to the Anfield faithful by saving Tammy Abraham's penalty for Liverpool to lift the Uefa Super Cup in August. Had been a capable deputy for Alisson when called upon before his costly mistake contributed to Liverpool's Champions League last-16 exit to Atletico Madrid in March. Getty

Caoimhin Kelleher - 6: Young Irishman impressed in the cup competitions, making four appearances pre-lockdown. AFP

DEFENDERS: Virgil van Dijk - 9: Leads the league in passes to highlight his importance to Liverpool's attacking game but it's Van Dijk's defending that marks him out as a colossus. Few can lay claim to being the undisputed best in their position but there is no better central defender in world football than the Dutchman. EPA

Dejan Lovren - 6: The Croatian has slipped further down the centre-back pecking order with the emergence of Joe Gomez this season. Getty

Joe Gomez - 8: Powerful Englishman stepped up to the plate when Joel Matip suffered an injury early in the season. His performances earned him an England call up and it's no exaggeration to say he would have probably gone to this year's European Championship as one of Gareth Southgate's first-choice centre-backs. A big future ahead. Reuters

Andy Robertson - 8: One of the most accomplished left-backs in world football. An excellent defender who provides attacking impetus down the left-hand flank. Seven assists before lockdown and a crucial late goal in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa in November symbolic of team's never-say-die attitude. Getty

Joel Matip - 7: Injury and the form of Joe Gomez have limited the Cameroonian to only a handful of appearances. An underrated passer and still one of the club's most astute signings. Reuters

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 9: Already broken his own assists record for a defender with 16 pre-lockdown. Superb passer and his quality at set-pieces - as seen with his sublime goal in the win against Crystal Palace - is one of Liverpool's most potent weapons. Reuters

Sepp van den Berg - 5: Dutch defender, 18, is highly thought of at Anfield and impressed during the young side's League Cup run. Getty

Nathaniel Phillips - 5: The 23-year-old made one FA Cup appearances before being loaned to German club Stuttgart. AFP

Ki-Jana Hoever - 6: Stylish Dutch defender, 18, became the club's fourth youngest goalscorer when he netted in the League Cup win over MK Dons on September 25, 2019. Getty

Neco Williams - 5: Faces a tall order trying to dislodge Alexander-Arnold as first choice, but showed neat footwork and comfort on the ball as a replacement in the recent win over Crystal Palace to suggest a bright future. EPA

Nathaniel Clyne - NA: Once described as a 'machine' by Klopp, the right-back is yet to feature for the Reds this season and is sure to leave in the summer. Reuters

Curtis Jones - 7: Became Liverpool's youngest ever captain – at 19 years and 5 days – when he captained Liverpool's youngest ever first team side with an average age of 19 years and 102 days to a 1–0 victory over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup replay at Anfield. AP

MIDFIELDERS: Fabinho - 8: The Brazilian's defensive qualities help make the Liverpool machine work. Showed his development as an all-round player with a delightful chip and a scorching drive in the demolition of Palace. Hard to think Naby Keita was the more celebrated arrival at Anfield two years ago. Reuters

Georginio Wijnaldum - 7: Another productive campaign from the Dutch international is set to be rewarded with a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2024. EPA

James Milner - 7: Few are more dependable than the versatile Englishman. Used mainly from the bench this season but his energy and experience always add something to the team. Getty

Naby Keita - 5: The Guinea international has failed to hold down a regular starting place in almost two years at Anfield. Rumours that he will be used as part of a makeweight to bring Alessio Romagnoli to the club from AC Milan in the summer. Getty

Jordan Henderson - 8: No doubt the Liverpool captain is one of the finest midfielders around now. His drive, passing range and leadership make him one of the most important cogs in Klopp's team. PA

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: Emerged from serious injury that wiped out his 2018/19 season with some commanding performances for a demanding manager. Getty

Adam Lallana - 6: Klopp confirmed the former Southampton winger will leave the club at the end of the season. Mostly cameo appearances were highlighted by a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United in October to maintain the club's unbeaten start. Getty Images

Xherdan Shaqiri - 6: Hard to accommodate the Swiss' talents in a team brimming with it in the forward positions. PA

Harvey Elliott - 6: Highly-skilled winger became the youngest player to start a match at Anfield, at the age of 16 years and 209 days, in the epic 5-5 League Cup draw against Arsenal having already become the club's youngest first-team player in the previous round against MK Dons. Reuters

FORWARDS: Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian striker's goals return may be down - he is still yet to score at Anfield this term - but his import to Liverpool's attack is not. He still makes the front three work and still the hardest working No 9 in the league. Getty

Sadio Mane - 9: Fourteen league goals before lockdown and 19 in all competitions after a superb finish against Palace. The Senegalese has overtaken Mohamed Salah as Liverpool's best striker. Has been simply unplayable at times. Getty

Mohamed Salah - 9: Twenty goals across competitions pre-lockdown represents another impressive return from the Egyptian. His pace and skill are still a nightmare for opposition defences to counter. Even turned provider for his mate Mane in the demolition of Crystal Palace. Getty

Divock Origi - 6: Scored two goals as Liverpool beat Everton 5–2 in the December's Merseyside derby at Anfield to extend their unbeaten run in league football to 32 matches, which was a club record. Getty

Takumi Minamino - 5: Anyone would struggle to get in an attacking lineup boasting Firmino, Mane and Salah. The Japanese has been limited mostly to cup matches. Getty

PLAYERS ON LOAN: Loris Karius - 6: German cut short his two-year loan spell early at Turkish club Besiktas in April after his manager questioned his motivation following a string of poor performances. Has a deal until 2022 at Liverpool and may be retained as Alisson's understudy if Adrian is jettisoned. Getty

Harry Wilson - 7: The young midfielder has been one of the few shining lights in a struggling Bournemouth team. EPA

Marko Grujic - 7: Serb has spent the past two seasons at Hertha Berlin and seems his future lies away from Anfield. AFP

Sheyi Ojo - 5: Winger began his loan spell at Scottish side Rangers under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in impressive fashion but petered out before the Scottish league season was called off due to the Covid-19 crisis. Reuters

Ben Woodburn - 5: Midfielder has spent the season on loan at League One Oxford United. EPA

Rhian Brewster - 7: Striker, 20, made three first-team appearances for Liverpool before being loaned to Swansea in the second tier in January. Has scored six goals in 12 appearances and will hope to feature more prominently under Klopp in the future. Getty