Manchester United Vs. Liverpool: 5 Games That Define the Rivalry
The murmurs of trepidation rising into a roaring crescendo of noise as the whistle shrieks into the electric night air. Yes my friends, it is football rivalry that keeps the sport alive. Some bound by geographic placement, some by success, some by no discernible reason at all, well at least to the partisan amongst us.
Rivalry is as integral to the game as the whistle and ball, it is what fills in the dark, gives the game its colour; it’s what football is all about. You have Rome Derby, the Old Firm in Scotland, Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, but, in my opinion none compare to the raw loathing that exists between England’s two most successful club sides.
Manchester United versus Liverpool is the rivalry that surpasses them all. Interestingly, if asked of their biggest rivals, United fans will defy geographical boundaries (Man City), or their closest rival over recent years (Arsenal), “I hate the Scousers” will come the immediate, withering riposte. Liverpool too, no Everton here “Them dirty Mancs”, will snarl the irate fan.
History is what binds the two together. This season more than ever before, and with United’s current tenure at the apex of the Premiership Liverpool fans have added incentive for their dislike. Namely, if United win the league, Liverpool will no longer be the joint most successful team in England, they will be second. The Kop doesn’t like second.
So, it is at Anfield, on Sunday the 6th of March, that the feud that has come to define English football will be renewed. As usual, a great deal is on the line for both sides in relation to their respective goals.
A Liverpool win would put a serious dent in United’s title credentials. If United triumph, Liverpool’s renaissance under Kenny Dalglish is severely compromised and the title takes another step towards United’s already burgeoning trophy cabinet. Oh yes it matters.
In anticipation, I have created the following slide show examining five examples that, to me, have defined the rivalry over the past decade or so. United wins, Liverpool wins all have contributed to the maelstrom of emotions that everyone in red or white will be wearing upon their sleeves come Sunday afternoon.
There are more, but in my opinion these define the current state of the rivalry. Comment and appreciate at your own discretion, feedback is always much appreciated if justified. Enjoy.
17th December 2000: "We Will Beat Them One Day": United 0-1 Liverpool
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After a winless run against the old enemy that had stretched back some ten games, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier had famously announced; “we will beat them one day, I promise you that."
Nobody had expected the words to have such immediate resonance, however, as the nemesis that has since become akin to the black death for United raised his hand for the first time.
Danny Murphy’s free-kick just before half time won the match for Liverpool, but United will have been scratching their heads because, despite dominating, they somehow contrived to lose the game.
The game lifted the voodoo United had over Liverpool, and the Pool would go on to have success over the Red Devils in the coming seasons.
For Murphy, the goal proved the precursor to a career of disappointing the United faithful as his goals and all action displays have downed United on more than one occasion, both for Liverpool, as well as new club Fulham.
Despite the set-back at Old Trafford, it was United that had the last laugh in the 2000-01 season, finishing as champions to lift their third consecutive trophy. Liverpool too achieved success in the season, finishing with a unique “treble." They hoisted Worthington Cup on penalties against Birmingham, captured the FA cup against Arsenal courtesy of two Michael Owen goals.
The final feather in Liverpool’s 2001 cap came with victory in the UEFA Cup final in a pulsating game against Alaves, prevailing 5-4 in extra time in one of the great European finals. Good season all round for both teams.
24th January 1999: Comeback Puts United on Treble Road: United 2-1 Liverpool
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The 1999 treble winning season has achieved iconic status in the heart of every United fan, but what is sometimes forgotten is the variety of obstacles that attempted to compromise United’s progression on three fronts. Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth round visit to Old Trafford was one such obstacle.
After Liverpool’s boy-wonder Michael Owen had given them a third minute lead, Old Trafford was hushed. As the end of the game approached and Liverpool nursing a 1-0 lead, it appeared that United’s triumvirate would be over before it had even began. Then, with two minutes of normal time to go, Dwight Yorke was on the end of Andy Cole’s cushioned header to divert the ball into the Liverpool net.
A replay at Anfield beckoned. However, deep into injury time though United delivered a sucker punch to their rivals gut, and who else would it be than the baby faced assassin himself?
Ole Gunnar Solkjaer received the ball in the Liverpool area, wrong-footed the defence and struck the ball sweetly into the corner of the net to give United an improbable win.
In contrast to their opponents, Liverpool were left to wonder what if, and bemoan the day they heard the name of an assassin with a baby’s face.
United went on to capture the treble in 1999, despite the numerous challenges that came their way. Winning three trophies is a very difficult task, and often requires a last second victory or a stroke of good fortune. Manchester United were definitely a team of destiny, and were simply not going to be stopped.
March 23rd 2008: Masch Will Not Be Moved: United 3-0 Liverpool
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A game United won with almost consummate ease, was defined by the image of an irate Javier Mascherano refusing to vacate the pitch after his sending off.
The result brought to an abrupt end the head of steam that Liverpool had built up after amassing seven straight wins, with Mascherano’s second yellow for dissent was simply the cherry on the United cake.
In the event, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs completely carved Liverpool apart for 90 minutes. United took a 1-0 lead into the break, thanks to the head of the prolifically goal-shy Wes Brown.
After half-time Liverpool imploded. Incensed at the perceived injustice that had been served upon them, they fell apart, the peak of which was Mascherano's dismissal. There was no way back for Liverpool and the 3-0 scoreline did not really do United’s dominance justice.
With United ending the season as Champions of England and of Europe, Liverpool’s tenure in the shadow of their bitter rivals showed no sign of abating.
For Liverpool themselves, a season that had initially promised so much finished once again in heartache, as they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage to Chelsea after extra time.
To rub yet more salt into the Liverpool wound, victory would have set up a final with the arch enemy, something which Reds fans would have loved.
March 14th 2009: "The Old Trafford Massacre:" United 1-4 Liverpool
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The teams met the following season, almost a year to the date of the Mascherano affair, but the result could not have been more different. Liverpool simply ravaged United to dole out one of the Red Devils most humiliating defeats of the modern era.
The game is remembered for the dual between Liverpool talisman Fernando Torres and United’s Serbian defender (I would under normal circumstances say rock but in the event that would almost be defamatory so Serbian will suffice), Nemanja Vidic.
There was only one winner, as Torres gave Vidic the run round that still haunts him to this day.
The game had started so well for United, after Cristiano Ronaldo converted the spot kick won by Reina’s ill-advised rush at Park Ji Sung. That was as good as it got for United, as an inspired performance by Liverpool, in particular Gerrard and Torres, took United to the cleaners.
Goals from Torres, Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Dossena handed Liverpool the victory on a silver platter with bells on. More surprising than the result was Vidic’s performance.
The Serbian, who had before this game had been a strong contender for player of the year, reverted to the role of a small seal cub flapping aimlessly in the jaws of the marauding great white Torres.
He was as bad as Torres was good, and that was very. Even Alex Ferguson, in his post-match press conference, admitted Liverpool (who should of won by six) “probably deserved to win,” which coming from Ferguson is a quite staggering admission.
Despite the fact that United eventually prevailed by four points over Liverpool in the league, the signs were there that the guard could be changing.
Well at the time they were.
22 January 2006: Gary Neville Makes a Few Enemies: United 1-0 Liverpool
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This match essentially sums up what United fans love about their recently retired skipper Gary Neville and everyone else, in particular Liverpool, absolutely loathed. Gary Neville bled United red, at the expense of all else, but especially Liverpool.
The match itself, contrary to the scoreline, was one that Liverpool dominated. Yet after Djibril Cisse somehow contrived to miss a guilt-edged opportunity with the goal at his mercy just after the hour mark, one began to sense that it might not be Liverpool’s day. The prophecy proved to be true.
In the last minute of normal time, fate contrived to deflate the travelling Anfield support and set into motion one of the most controversial celebrations in the fixtures history.
When Ryan Giggs‘ whipped cross was expertly finished by Rio Ferdinand with his head, Gary Neville set off to celebrate, with the Liverpool fans up the other end of the pitch. A mutual hatred from terrace to pitch was epitomised in Neville’s actions. Fist pumping, hip thrusting and a screaming torrent of raw emotion directed at the incensed travelling support. You can imagine how the Liverpool faithful reacted to this.
After the game, riots ensued between rival fan groups, which was later attributed to Neville’s overzealous celebration. He was fined £5000 for his actions, to the bewilderment of both Neville and United.
6th March 2011: ?
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We have now arrived to this Sunday. After United’s heartbreaking loss to Chelsea last night, the game has become even more significant. If Arsenal manage to win their game in hand, United’s lead at the top of the table lead is down to a point. Liverpool? Well they lost to West Ham last time out, which wasn’t a great sign for them heading into this match-up.
It will be interesting to see how the teams perform on Sunday, considering they both lost their last games. Prior to that, they both were on an excellent run of form. Which sides will we see?
The victor with the opportunity to blow apart the others campaign, whilst, at the same time, elevating their own? Andy Carroll quite possibly in line to make his debut?
Liverpool versus Manchester United, Anfield, Sunday 6th March 2011: I’ll be watching, will you?
