City were beaten in their third pre-season friendly of the summer, losing 3-1 at home to Liverpool FC in a match played in aid of the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.
Contested in front of a full house of 24,343 supporters - the most since the Utilita Energy Stadium re-opened in 1986 - an explosive first half from City’s counterparts saw them march a 3-0 lead into the interval.
The hosts then sent the capacity-crowd home happy with a late Eoin Doyle penalty, with both City legend Stephen Darby and close friend Chris Rimmer watching on.
The Reds begun the affair in clear control and opened the scoring within the first 13 minutes.
A James Milner effort from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off James Vaughan and cruelly wrong-footed City keeper Richard O’Donnell for 0-1.
Two minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty, and doubled their advantage.
Ryan Kent burst into the box and eventually hit the ground amid pressure from the home defence, leaving Milner to step up and convert from 12 yards out, beating O’Donnell’s despairing dive.
The Bantams thought they had pulled a goal back half an hour into the breathless first half, however Ben Richards-Everton’s header from a Matt Palmer free-kick was chalked off for offside.
The offside flag again frustrated City supporters as Vaughan’s header was tipped on to the post by Simon Mignolet, however the flag was already raised.
The Anfield outfit then made it three just before half-time, when Rhian Brewster’s effort from a tight angle found a way in past O’Donnell.
The second half slowed in intensity, with clear-cut chances limited for both sides.
Gary Bowyer’s side were given an opportunity to salvage a late consolation, after Clayton Donaldson was brought down in the penalty area.
Eoin Doyle stepped up and sent Mignolet the wrong way from the spot, to send The Kop into raptures.
A lap of appreciation from both sides and managers as well as Darby and Rimmer ensued, as a historic day came to a close.
The Bantams continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to Eccleshill United this Tuesday night (July 16, 7.30pm).
CITY FIRST HALF: Richard O’Donnell; Adam Henley, Kevin Mellor, Ben Richards-Everton (Anthony O’Connor 33’), Jackson Longridge; Sean Scannell, Matt Palmer, Jordan Gibson, Hope Akpan, Omari Patrick; James Vaughan (c).
CITY SECOND HALF: Sam Hornby; Nortei Nortey, Anthony O’Connor, Tyler French, Joe Riley; Lionel Ainsworth (Connor Morris 83’), Danny Devine, Chris Taylor, Connor Wood (Connor Shanks 83’); Eoin Doyle, Clayton Donaldson (c).
SUBS (not used): Reece Staunton, Eliot Goldthorp, Finn Cousin-Dawson.
GOALS: Doyle (81’ pen).
LIVERPOOL FC FIRST HALF: Simon Mignolet (Daniel Atherton 82’); Nathaniel Clyne, Nat Phillips, Dejan Lovren, Yasser Larouchi; Harry Wilson, James Milner (c), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Ryan Kent; Rhian Brewster.
LIVERPOOL FC SECOND HALF: Simon Mignolet; Ki-Jana Hoever, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Adam Lewis; Fabinho, Curtis Jones; Bobby Duncan, Ben Woodburn, Adam Lewis; Divock Origi.
SUBS (not used): George Johnston.
GOALS: Milner (13’, 15’ pen), Brewster (41’).