Bernando Silva reignited his personal battle with Liverpool and their supporters during a fiery incident with Mohamed Salah.
The Portuguese playmaker was selected to start at Anfield on Sunday evening but could not inspire his side as the reigning Premier League champions slipped to a slender defeat. In the end, it was Salah who proved to be the match-winner after coolly slotting home past Ederson following a sumptuous bit of skill to plot a route past City defender Joao Cancelo.
Salah’s contributions were not limited to just that though, as he was involved in a coming-together with Silva during the second half of the clash.
The Egyptian looked to skip away from the City man, only for the former Monaco star to pull him back. Both players went flying but referee Anthony Taylor elected not to blow up for a foul - incensing Liverpool players in the process and leading to Jurgen Klopp being sent off.
Silva then took exception to comments aimed his way. He was at the heart of a particularly-tetchy conversation with Salah, resulting in the City man pushing his rival away.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk then got involved and Silva squared up to the towering Dutchman - a duel that he always looked unlikely to win.
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Tensions eventually simmered down, although it doesn’t look like the City midfielder will be on any Christmas card lists on Merseyside any time soon considering his history with Liverpool fans.
The Portuguese previously fired a brutal dig at Reds supporters in the aftermath of City’s Champions League defeat by Lyon in 2020. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "And to all Liverpool fans that have nothing else to do than to come to a Man City player account, I’m also sorry for you but for the wrong reasons... pathetic... go celebrate your titles, or try to find a partner, drink a beer with a friend, read a book... so many options!"
He then followed that up with yet more criticism. "I guess reading a book was a bit too much for you... maybe just go for a brew,” Silva added.
Whilst it initially appeared as though the 28-year-old had moved on from firing digs at Liverpool and their supporters, he was at it once again earlier this season by claiming that Pep Guardiola’s men do not get as much credit as the Reds.
Speaking in August, he said: "I'm not complaining here, but I feel like other clubs get a lot more credit than Man City for doing less. For example, when I was at Benfica - a huge club in Portugal with more fans, more everything - you do something nice, and they make it look like it's great. Here at Man City, you do something great and they make it look like it's just good.
"I'm not complaining, but playing in the Premier League and winning four titles in five years and checking the Premier League team of the year every year and knowing that we're never the team that has the most players."
There is no denying there is a significant animosity between Silva and Liverpool - and that only grew with his latest clash at Anfield.
