A process for liquefying methane-rich gases comprising - providing a stream of feed methane-rich gas containing higher hydrocarbons at a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar; - providing a stream of methane-rich recycle gas at a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar; - dividing the recycle gas into first and second parts; - mixing the feed gas with the first part of the recycle gas; - passing the resulting mixture to a first gas expander the first expander outlet having a pressure of between 3 bar and 50 bar so as to form a mixture of vapour and a condensed liquid containing higher hydrocarbons, i.e C5+ hydrocarbons and/or aromatic compounds; - separating the expander outlet stream into a liquid stream and a vapour stream; - removing the separated liquid stream from the process; - reheating the vapour stream in a first cold passage of a first heat exchanger; - compressing said vapour stream after said reheating to a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar to form a first constituent of the above-said recycle gas; - passing the second part of the recycle gas to said first heat exchanger and cooling the second part of the recycle gas in a hot passage of the first heat exchanger, to a temperature higher than the outlet temperature of said first expander; - passing said cooled second part of the recycle gas into a liquefaction unit where it is divided into first and second parts streams; - cooling in a hot passage of a second heat exchanger said first stream to form a methane-rich condensate which is depressurised to form LNG product; - passing said second stream to a second gas expander to form a mixture of liquid and vapour; - separating the outlet stream of the second gas expander in a separator to form a liquid stream and a second vapour stream; - depressurizing said liquid stream through a valve or turbine to form additional LNG product; - reheating said second vapour stream in a cold passage in said second heat exchanger and a second cold passage in the first heat exchanger; and then - compressing said reheated second vapour stream to a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar to form a second constituent of the above-said recycle gas. - providing a stream of feed methane-rich gas containing higher hydrocarbons at a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar; - providing a stream of methane-rich recycle gas at a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar; - dividing the recycle gas into first and second parts; - mixing the feed gas with the first part of the recycle gas; - passing the resulting mixture to a first gas expander the first expander outlet having a pressure of between 3 bar and 50 bar so as to form a mixture of vapour and a condensed liquid containing higher hydrocarbons, i.e C5+ hydrocarbons and/or aromatic compounds; - separating the expander outlet stream into a liquid stream and a vapour stream; - removing the separated liquid stream from the process; - reheating the vapour stream in a first cold passage of a first heat exchanger; - compressing said vapour stream after said reheating to a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar to form a first constituent of the above-said recycle gas; - passing the second part of the recycle gas to said first heat exchanger and cooling the second part of the recycle gas in a hot passage of the first heat exchanger, to a temperature higher than the outlet temperature of said first expander; - passing said cooled second part of the recycle gas into a liquefaction unit where it is divided into first and second parts streams; - cooling in a hot passage of a second heat exchanger said first stream to form a methane-rich condensate which is depressurised to form LNG product; - passing said second stream to a second gas expander to form a mixture of liquid and vapour; - separating the outlet stream of the second gas expander in a separator to form a liquid stream and a second vapour stream; - depressurizing said liquid stream through a valve or turbine to form additional LNG product; - reheating said second vapour stream in a cold passage in said second heat exchanger and a second cold passage in the first heat exchanger; and then - compressing said reheated second vapour stream to a pressure of from 40 to 120 bar to form a second constituent of the above-said recycle gas.