10 Worst Players to Be on the Winning Side in Man United vs. Liverpool Game

As the two most successful teams in English football, it's unsurprising that games between Manchester United and Liverpool have featured some of the best players in the world.

But some less celebrated players have also been on the winning side in what is one of the Premier League's most fiercely competitive fixtures.

For every Cristiano Ronaldo, there is a David Bellion. For every Steven Gerrard, there is a Bruno Cheyrou.

In the Premier League era, both teams have signed players that have flopped.

But some of them have a win over United or Liverpool on their CVs.

Here's a list of the 10 worst players to end up on the winning side for United against Liverpool or for Liverpool against United.

There wasn't room for them all, so feel free to add your own in the comments section below.

10. Karel Poborsky

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Karel Poborsky signed for United after impressing for the Czech Republic at Euro 96.

But he never lived up to his billing and left Old Trafford just two years and 32 appearances later.

He was, however, in United's starting XI for the 1-0 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in October 1996.

He was substituted shortly after half-time.

9. Nabil El Zhar

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Moroccan international Nabil El Zhar arrived at Liverpool from France in 2006 but never managed to establish himself in the first-team.

He played 32 times in four seasons before leaving for Levante in 2011. 

One of those appearances was as an 89th-minute substitute for Steven Gerrard at the end of Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford in March 2009.

He barely got a kick but got to join in the celebrations anyway.

8. Jan Kromkamp

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Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp only played 18 times for Liverpool but he still managed to record a win over United.

He came on as a late substitute for Harry Kewell as Peter Crouch scored the only goal at Anfield to knock United out of the FA Cup in February 2006.

By August, he had been moved on to PSV Eindhoven.

7. Kieran Richardson

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Kieran Richardson came through the academy at United but never really earned the complete trust of Sir Alex Ferguson before being sold to Sunderland in 2007.

United's Premier League clash with Liverpool in January 2006 is remembered for Rio Ferdinand's 90th-minute winner.

Less well-known is that Richardson played 90 minutes in a midfield which also included John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs.

6. Andrea Dossena

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Andrea Dossena cost £7 million when he signed for Liverpool from Udinese in 2008.

And despite a disappointing two years at Anfield, he paid back a large chunk of his transfer fee in March 2009.

With Liverpool 3-1 up at Old Trafford, Dossena, on as a second-half substitute, ran through in the final minute to score a fourth.

It was worth £7 million to most Liverpool fans.

5. Roy Carroll

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Roy Carroll's time at United is remembered for the blunder that never was when he dropped Pedro Mendes' shot into his own net—a goal that wasn't given—against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

But he did keep a clean sheet at Anfield in January 2005.

It helped United win 1-0, thanks to Wayne Rooney's first-half goal, despite having Wes Brown sent off after half-time.

4. Bruno Cheyrou

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Bruno Cheyrou was another of Liverpool's expensive signings that never worked out.

The French midfielder cost £4.5 million when he signed from Lille in 2002. But by 2006 he had returned to France after loan spells at Marseilles and then Bordeaux.

But in April 2004, he came on as a second-half substitute for Harry Kewell as Liverpool won 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Danny Murphy penalty. 

It was one of just 48 appearances.

3. David Bellion

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David Bellion frequently appears in lists of Sir Alex Ferguson's worst signings.

The French striker, signed from Sunderland in 2003, had a lot of pace but not much else.

By 2006 Ferguson had lost patience and Bellion returned to France with Nice.

But not before he had contributed to a United win at Anfield, coming on as a late substitute for Wayne Rooney during their 1-0 win in January 2005.

2. Sotirios Kyrgiakos

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Sotirios Kyrgiakos was signed as a back-up centre-half when he moved from AEK Athens to Liverpool in 2009.

But he was thrust into duty against United in March 2011 when he came on as an early substitute for Fabio Aurelio at Anfield with the game goalless.

At full-time, Liverpool had won 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Dirk Kuyt. 

Kyrgiakos played his part, keeping out United's forwards until Javier Hernandez scored a 90th-minute consolation.

1. Massimo Taibi

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Massimo Taibi is another who regularly crops up in conversations about United's worst signings.

But the Italian goalkeeper's United career started impressively—at Anfield.

Making his debut against Liverpool in September 1999, he was one of United's best players as they won 3-2 despite having Andy Cole sent off in the second half.

But it proved to be the highlight of his short spell at Old Trafford. And after a couple of horrendous mistakes, he returned to Italy with Reggina in 2000.