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16.
Liverpool and Manchester United first met on April 28, 1894, and have met 218 times since. United hold the edge in the derby with 83 wins to Liverpool’s 74, while the two have shared the spoils on 61 occasions. The clubs are the two most successful in the history of English football, having won 121 various titles combined.
There is no love lost between these two clubs situated in the North West part of England, nor is there ever a doubt that it’s guaranteed to be a spirited affair every time these two lock horns. From the players to the supporters, there is an animosity felt on the surface and underneath the bedrock of the region. Fan fights, race rows, and red cards don’t even begin to sum up the intensity.
Old Trafford has the Stretford End and Anfield has the Kop, and while the two fan bases will never admit to having anything in common, the similarities are striking. These two clubs have been involved in countless important matches, have both been at the pinnacle of soccer in England and Europe, and regardless of current league position or club status, they always get up for this one.
Today, ninth-place Liverpool traveled to third-place Manchester United for the teams’ first encounter of the season, which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Red Devils. But not all of their matches have been as one-sided. Take a look back at some of the matches that make this one of the best rivalries in sport. From Eric Cantona’s comeback to John Arne Riise’s rocket, these are The Greatest Moments in Liverpool v. Manchester United History.
*Information and Statistics were used from these sources.
15.Liverpool Helps Leeds to the Title
Date: 4/26/1992
Competition: League Division One
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England
In 1992, Manchester United were within touching distance of ending a 21-year period without silverware. Their competition for the League Division One crown, the last to be awarded before the inception of the Premier League era, was Leeds United. And any hope United had of snatching the title from Leeds was quickly erased by Liverpool front man Ian Rush. Rush struck just 12 minutes into the match, ending a personal decade-long scoring slump against the Red Devils, and all but handing the title to Leeds (Leeds would finish on 82 points, with United second on 78). Any true supporter of United or Liverpool knows that playing spoiler can be near as rewarding as winning a trophy.
14.Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney Rub Salt in Liverpool's Wounds
Date: 1/22/2006
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
This 1-0 victory for Manchester United at Old Trafford had obvious significance as far as the season-long title races was concerned—United finished one point ahead of Liverpool with 83 points, as the two came in second and third behind champions Chelsea—but the main reason it sticks out in the history of this great rivalry is for the victory celebrations of Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville. After the final whistle, Neville ran the length of the pitch to celebrate wildly in front of the pack of traveling Liverpool supporters. In case you thought it was just the fans who take this one seriously.
13.An FA Cup Semifinal For the Ages
Date: 4/13/1985
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
The 1985 FA Cup would prove to be one of Manchester United’s greatest runs to a trophy in club history. After a 4-2 win over West Ham in the Sixth Round, United drew arch rivals Liverpool in the semis. The match looked to be going United’s way on more than one occasion, as Bryan Robson and Frank Stapleton twice gave the Red Devils the lead on the day. It wasn’t to be, though, as Paul Walsh’s controversial equalizer in the 119th minute ensured a replay would be in order. United defeated Liverpool just five days later to advance to the Final, where, despite going down to 10 men in the 78th minute, they managed to pull out a 1-0 victory over Everton in extra time. Mixed emotions for Liverpool fans?
12.Dimitar Berbatov Plays Hat Trick Hero
Date: 9/19/2010
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
It was the Dimitar Berbatov show at Old Trafford in September of 2010. The Bulgarian scored a hat trick in front of the Manchester United faithful, including an overhead belter. Despite letting their two-goal advantage over Liverpool slip during the match, Berbatov and United took home all three points on the day, and eventually captured their 19th English title at season’s end.
11.Peter Crouch Knocks Manchester United Out of the FA Cup
Date: 2/18/2006
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Liverpool’s 2006 FA Cup will always be remembered for Steven Gerrard’s dramatic late equalizer against West Ham in the Final, but their victory over Manchester United in the Fifth Round is almost just as memorable. The winner came through Peter Crouch’s 18th-minute header, but most significantly, the victory ended United’s chase of an FA Cup and League Cup double, in addition to breaking Liverpool’s run of 85 years without a win over United in an FA Cup tie.
10.United Strike Late to Capture the Treble
Date: 1/24/199
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
In 1999, thanks in large part to a total defensive collapse from Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, Manchester United achieved the rare treble. And it was this FA Cup tie against Liverpool earlier in the season that had United on the right side of a rare case of déjà vu. During their Fourth Round battle in January, the Red Devils were trailing Liverpool through 86 minutes of the match, but that all changed in a matter of moments. First, Dwight York scored the equalizer through a free kick, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck in added time to complete the comeback.
9.Danny Murphy Earns a Famous Victory at Old Trafford
Date: 12/17/2000
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Few Liverpool fans will forget this famous Premier League victory at Old Trafford. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier had failed to best United in their previous 10 encounters, but that all changed thanks to one perfectly-curled free kick from the boot of Danny Murphy. This strike just before half time put the Reds ahead, and 45 minutes of frantic defending ensured a happy bus ride home.
8.Eric Cantona Marks His Return in Style
Date: 10/1/1995
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
This clash back in 1995 had added significance due to the fact that Manchester United forward Eric Cantona was making his return from a nine-month ban. He received that ban for karate kicking a Crystal Palace fan at Selhurst Park, by the way. Anyway, United took the lead early through Nicky Butt, but the Old Trafford crowd was silenced after Robbie Fowler scored two delightful goals either side of half time to give Liverpool the lead. But it was to be Cantona’s day in the end. The Frenchman converted a penalty on 70 minutes to earn United a point, and celebrated like he’d just won the title, which United would go on to do later that season.
7.Ronnie Whelan Delivers the Milk Cup
Date: 3/26/1983
Competition: League Cup
Ground: Wembley Stadium, London
Liverpool suffered a torrid FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in 1977, but were able to get their revenge in 1983. In front of just shy of 100,000 fans at Wembley, and the match knotted at 1-1 in extra time thanks to goals from Alan Kennedy and Norman Whiteside, Liverpool’s Ronnie Whelan raced into the box and scored a fine first-time goal in the 98th minute to earn Liverpool the Milk Cup victory. Does it matter that Whelan was attempting a pass before a fortuitous block placed the ball perfectly back into his path? Not to Liverpool fans it doesn’t.
6.Liverpool Demolish Fergie's United at Old Trafford
Date: 3/14/2009
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Before this clash, Liverpool entered Old Trafford seven points adrift of United, knowing that anything less than a victory would all but end their 2009 title chances. And the game started off much to the delight of the home supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a 23rd-minute penalty to give United the early lead, but it was all Liverpool after that. Fernando Torres equalized just five minutes later, and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard converted a penalty in the 44th minute to complete the comeback before halftime. Second half goals from Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena ensured a famous Liverpool away victory, and utter embarrassment for Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges. Liverpool didn’t win the title that year, but this was certainly one of their highlights of the season.
5.United Make Their Claim For English Domination
Date: 4/4/1988
Competition: League Division One
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Liverpool dominated English football in the 80's, and it was expected to be more of the same when United came to Anfield on this day. And for most of the match it certainly looked like it was going to be. Liverpool held a 3-1 lead after goals from Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie, and Steve McMahon, but goals from Bryan Robson and Gordon Strachan ensured United would be leaving with a point, and more importantly signaled a shifting of the course of power in the years to come.
4.United Dash Liverpool's Hopes of a Treble
Date: 5/21/1977
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Wembley Stadium, London
As we mentioned earlier, Liverpool were unable to quell United’s quest for the treble in 1999. In 1977, however, United had no such trouble. Liverpool sought the First Division, FA Cup, and European Cup, but United stood in their way of realizing that dream. United entered the FA Cup Final in a worse league position than their opponents, but won the match 2-1 through a deflected winner off the boot of Jimmy Greenhoff. Liverpool of course went on to win the league and Europe, but they were denied their triple based on the results of this day.
3.John Arne Riise's Thunderbolt Sends Shockwaves Through Anfield
Date: 11/4/2001
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Before last season, the 2001-02 campaign is the only season in which Liverpool finished ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League era. This 3-1 victory for Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool went a long way to securing that status. Liverpool were riding a three-match winning streak against their fierce rivals, and were well on their way to making it four after Michael Owen’s opener. The goal of the night, though, came from John Arne Riise. The Norwegian scored this piledriver of a free kick past Fabien Barthez, and Liverpool secured all three points on the day.
2.Eric Cantona's Cup-Winning Volley
Date: 5/11/1996
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Wembley Stadium, London
If Eric Cantona had already announced his return from that nine-month ban earlier in the season by scoring a late equalizer to earn United a share of the points with Liverpool, then he came full circle with his 85th-minute winner against the Reds in the FA Cup final. This perfectly-placed half-volley made its way through a crowded penalty area, and nestled into the back of the net to secure United another piece of silverware. Maybe Liverpool lost because they came out wearing these.
1.Liverpool Pull Off the Great Escape
Date: 1/4/1994
Competition: Premier League
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England
The greatest comeback Liverpool achieved over their greatest rivals came during a Premier League clash at Anfield in 1994. The visitors, who came in 21 points ahead of their hosts, were in the ascendency after jumping out to 3-0 lead with just 23 minutes gone on the clock. Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs, and Denis Irwin were responsible for quickly silencing the home crowd, but a Nigel Clough double and a 79th-minute winner from Neil Ruddock sent the Kop into sheer delirium. If a draw ever felt like a victory, it did so no more than on this day in the long and storied history of the two most successful clubs in English football.