GIVEN the way Manchester City have brushed aside any competition in the Premier League this season, it’s easy to forget that this is only their second appearance in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

After his side’s 2-1 defeat in the second-leg of their last-16 tie with Basel, which still saw them advance with a comfortable 5-2 aggregate win, Pep Guardiola assured onlookers that the next round would provide an entirely different test.

“This kind of position, where you have a 4-0 lead from the first leg, is not going to happen in the quarter-finals,” said the Catalan at the time.

“When it’s scary to be out, the rhythm will be completely different.”

In 2016, Manuel Pellegrini took Manchester City past the last 16 for the first time. They were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Real Madrid, following a narrow 1-0 defeat over two legs.

Guardiola’s side are an entirely different animal and have steamrollered their way through the Premier League. 

Having secured the title figuratively, if not mathematically, they can now focus all their preparation on these Champions League ties, so much so that even Saturday’s derby against Manchester United, where they can clinch the title against their local rivals, could be something of an afterthought.

This continental quarter-final sees them come up against the only side to have beaten them in the league this season, Liverpool, who themselves haven’t been to this stage of the competition since 2009. 

That year they were knocked out over two thrilling legs against Chelsea, with the second leg marking the 10th European meeting between the two sides in the space of four years.

Liverpool are used to meeting domestic rivals on the European stage and Anfield reacts accordingly. It will be the first time Manchester City have met an English side in the competition and, even if they defeat their opponents on Merseyside tonight, the club may still learn a thing or two about European nights to take with them on what they hope will be a long and successful future in the competition. 

Guardiola has described Liverpool as an “extraordinary team” and referred to Jurgen Klopp’s attack as “almost unstoppable.” They may also have to watch out for factors beyond the pitch which could affect this tie.

After a league meeting between the two sides back in April 2014, which Liverpool won but were eventually pipped to the title by Pellegrini’s side, Paul Handler of the Manchester Evening News was blown away by the atmosphere generated by Liverpudlians for such an important game.

“If City, United and every other club in the land can bottle more of what Anfield has, it would be worth an extra five points a season and the match-going fans would love it,” said Handler.

“Another edge Liverpool have is the history and architecture of Anfield,” he continued. 

“The place generates an unbelievable atmosphere. Sitting in the press box on Sunday, the noise level at kick-off was genuinely disorientating.”

City can expect more of the same tonight and, despite the pre-match bickering which could help create a rivalry similar to that which existed between Liverpool and Chelsea over a decade ago, the visiting club and its fans could take some of this with them back to Eastlands. 

It would no doubt help them in their quest to conquer Europe just as they have England.