Liverpool icon waited in car park for rival after 'violent' game got out of control

Liverpool and Manchester City have been fierce competitors for the Premier League title in recent seasons. However, their rivalry has rarely descended into complete mayhem – unlike a particular match in the 1970s.

Rodney Marsh, a City legend who celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday (October 11), was present that day and has previously recounted how the violence even extended to the car park. Marsh, who made 118 appearances for City, had a particularly memorable encounter with Liverpool at home in the early 70s when he managed to get under the skin of legendary Liverpool defender Tommy Smith .

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Smith – known as 'The Anfield Iron' – was infamous for his tough playing style. It's no surprise, then, that he waited around after the match to confront Marsh.

The 79-year-old wrote on X: "After one particularly violent match at Maine Rd, Liverpool's Tommy Smith was waiting for me in the car park! Today players unfollow on IG! Funny 'old game....."

When asked by a fan if he "nailed" Smith, Marsh responded: "No! Franny (City teammate Francis Lee) stepped in.....thankfully."

The City legend managed to sidestep a clash with the Liverpool ace whom Bill Shankly famously said wasn't born but "quarried." Once, Smith also notably declared that a referee "should be shot" after a poor call, quite a contrast to the recent outrage sparked by Nottingham Forest's remarks regarding the PGMOL.

Remarkably, Marsh and Smith later became teammates – not for an English club, but for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Florida back in 1976.