Liverpool vs Manchester United: Historic Clashes

Feisty ones, they are

Manchester United and Liverpool F.C are two of the most successful football clubs in England today. Between them, they have won a total of a 118 honours- 60 for Manchester United and 58 for Liverpool.  Now, pit these two clubs against each other and what follows is the most gripping, nail biting, 90 minutes of football, ever. With both clubs hailing from North-West England, this fixture is known as the North-West Derby or the Lancashire Derby.

Manchester United veteran, Ryan Giggs, once said that Liverpool vs. Manchester United is probably the most famous fixture in English football. We couldn’t agree more. The North West derby is one of the most high profile derbies and is anxiously awaited all season.  Liverpool was definitely the dominant team in terms of the Liverpool - Manchester United rivalry in the 70s and for most of the 80s but it has been all Manchester United for the last 20 years. As the saying goes, he who laughs last, laughs loudest and there has been much laughter and frivolity coming out of Old Trafford at the expense of Liverpool.

This isn’t just another football match as both teams don’t try to win. They try to destroy each other completely. In his autobiography, Steven Gerrard said, "during 90 minutes of football, I want United to die." It’s only obvious then, that these 2 teams have been a part of some of the most memorable football clashes, ever.



FA CUP CLASHES


The 1977 FA Cup Final played on 21 May 1977 at Wembley Stadium, London,and was contested by Manchester United and Liverpool. Liverpool, having just won the league title, knew that winning this game would put them on course for a unique treble as they had the European Cup final to look forward to four days later. At the end of 45 minutes, neither team had managed to take the lead as the scoreboard read Liverpool 0- 0 Manchester United.5 minutes into the second half, Stuart Pearson opened the scoring when he latched onto a long ball forward and drove a hard shot past Ray Clemence. Liverpool equalised 2 minutes later as Jimmy Case turned and hooked a right foot half-volley into the top corner.  Unfortunately for Liverpool, their treble dreams ended when Jimmy Greenhoff scored for United in the 55th minute.

When the 2 sides met again in the 1996 FA Cup Final, United once again managed to emerge victorious as they beat Liverpool 1-0. Liverpool condeded a corner, which David Beckham swung into the box to be cleared by David James, only for Eric Cantona to fire home United's winner.

In 2006, when Liverpool played Manchester United in the 4th round of the FA cup, they won the match 1-0 with the only goal of the match coming from Peter Crouch. The same year, Liverpool went on to win the FA cup as they beat West Ham United in one of greatest finals of the tournament yet.




PREMIER LEAGUE CLASHES


On 26 March 1983, the two sides met for the Football League Cup final. Goals from Alan Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan won the game 2-1 for Liverpool, who collected the trophy for the third year in succession. Norman Whiteside scored United's consolation goal. It was the last of Liverpool manager Bob Paisley's nine seasons in charge (during which Liverpool had dominated the English and European scene) before his retirement, and his players allowed him to climb the 39 steps to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.

On 4 April 1988, Liverpool were 11 points ahead at the top of the league and almost certain of winning the First Division title with barely a month of the league season remaining. United, in their first full season under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, were their nearest rivals. The two sides took to the field for a league encounter at Anfield and with the second half just minutes old the home side had a 3-1 lead with goals from Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon, with United's only goal coming from Bryan Robson. Robson then pulled a goal back for United, and with 12 minutes remaining fellow midfielder Gordon Strachan equalised to force a 3-3 draw.

Nearly six years after this clash, Anfield was the scene of another 3-3 draw in the league between the two sides, only this time it was the home side who climbed back from the jaws of defeat. On 4 January 1994, in the second season of the new FA Premier League, United took a 3-0 lead at Anfield in the opening 25 minutes with goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin. Liverpool managed to claw back to draw 3-3 with two goals from Nigel Clough and another from Neil Ruddock. It was one of the last games in charge of Liverpool for manager Graeme Souness, who had resigned by the end of the month.

On 1 October 1995, United's Eric Cantona made his comeback to the side after serving an eight-month suspension for attacking a spectator in a game against Crystal Palace. His comeback game was against Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford. United took an early lead through Nicky Butt, only for Liverpool's Robbie Fowler to score twice and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. However, United were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute and Cantona converted it successfuly, forcing a 2-2 draw.

On 14 March 2009, the two sides met at Old Trafford in the Premier League. United were ahead at the top of the league and Liverpool were looking to make a late run to the title which had eluded them since 1990. United went ahead in the 23rd minute with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but Fernando Torres equalised five minutes later for Liverpool, and a Steven Gerrard penalty just before half time put Liverpool in the lead. United had NemanjaVidić sent off in the 76th minute, and their misery was swiftly confounded by late goals from Fabio Aurelio and finally Andrea Dossena, condemning them to a 4-1 defeat - their heaviest at Old Trafford in any competition for 17 years.However, United managed to finish the season as league champions for the third season in succession,with Liverpool finishing second.

The teams last met at Anfield, on 6th March 2011, in the Premier league. Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick fired Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United. Although, United did manage to score a goal in stoppage time, the home crowd barely noticed and the visitors returned, greatly humbled.

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United now has the feeling of a big brother – little brother. It's personal, it's tense and it always ends in tears for someone. The stakes are high between the teams as they always put it on the line against each other.