Manchester United and Liverpool clash for the first time this season on Sunday at Old Trafford. Liverpool have a perfect record after eight games while United are struggling. We rolled back the years and looked at some of the memorable ties between the bitter rivals. Here are the Top 5 Meetings: Manchester United v Liverpool. Bet on the game here.
Liverpool 2 v 1 Manchester United – 1983
Before 1983, these two giants of English football had only met once before in a cup final, during the FA Cup final of 1977. However, the 1983 League Cup final produced one of the most memorable encounters between these two. The Red Devils took the lead through a splendid strike from Norman Whiteside and for a moment, United boss Ron Atkinson, who was chasing his first trophy as manager, saw the light at the end of the tunnel. United’s lead was in jeopardy as centre-backs Gordon McQueen and Kevin Moran suffered injuries while battling to preserve United’s slender lead. Alan Kennedy equalised for Liverpool late in the match to send the game to extra time. Ronnie Whelan then curled in a delightful winner to seal the Reds’ third consecutive League Cup and Bob Paisley’s last major trophy.
Liverpool 3 v 3 Manchester United – 1994
Manchester United had just become champions of England for the first time in 26 years and their era of dominance was just beginning. The Red Devils raced into a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes of this unforgettable classic. The visitors were heading into this game with a 17-game unbeaten run in the league, 21 points ahead of ninth-placed Liverpool. Three quick-fire goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin gave United a commanding lead. Nigel Clough grabbed a brace before halftime before Neil Ruddock completed a ludicrous comeback with 11 minutes to play and Anfield erupted for one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League’s history.
Manchester United 2 v 2 Liverpool – 1995
This highly anticipated match saw Eric Cantona, return from his suspension for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan. It felt like he never left, after he quickly found his feet crossing to Nicky Butt who scored after two minutes. Robbie Fowler bagged two well-taken goals to put Liverpool on course for victory. Cantona got himself in the mix getting into a bitter squabble with Liverpoool’s Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock who fiddled with Cantona’s collar a tad too much. It was Cantona who had the last laugh as he dispatched a 71st minute penalty to snatch a point for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side
Manchester United 2 v 1 Liverpool – 1999
United’s treble-winning season was perfectly exemplified by this dramatic smash and grab fourth-round FA Cup victory over their bitter rivals at Old Trafford. Michael Owen nodded Liverpool in front early in the game and with just two minutes left it looked like the Reds would have a rare victory over United in the FA Cup since 1922. But strikers Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had other ideas. In an astonishing rehearsal of what was to come in the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, the two scored in the 88th and 90th-minute to break hearts at Anfield once again.
Manchester United 1 v 4 Liverpool – 2009
This was arguably Liverpool’s finest performance at Old Trafford. The 2008/09 Premier League title race was hotly contested between these bitter rivals. Although United would go on to become champions for the 11th time, the Reds managed to beat them both home and away. After slipping up in the title race, Rafael Benitez’s side needed a win to boost their hopes of a first league title in the Premier League era. However, their quest of winning at Old Trafford was quickly squashed as Cristiano Ronaldo put United in front from the spot early in the game. However, Fernando Torres capitalised on an uncharacteristic error from Nemanja Vidic, who was later sent off, before Steven Gerrard’s penalty, an outstanding Fabio Aurelio free-kick and Andrea Dossena’s lob over Edwin van der Sar completed the rout.