For the first time in a while, we have a match-up between Liverpool and Manchester United with similarly high stakes in the Premier League for both sides. As both sides prepare to meet at Anfield this weekend, a place at the top of the table is the current prize.
Liverpool and Manchester United in Recent Past
Matches between Liverpool and Manchester United have always had something riding on them, no matter the stage. This intense rivalry hardly needs any more fuel to its flames. But in recent past – particularly since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson – the stakes in terms of the league have been minimal.
At best, it’s a case of one side trying to scupper the ultimately futile challenge of the other. Or, like last season, trying and failing to put a pause on an inevitable march to the title. Other times, it’s been a case of European aspirations, and sometimes less.
But with fans missing from this weekend’s game (a week before they meet again in the FA Cup), perhaps a high-stake potential title six-pointer will compensate. With 17 games played for both sides, Manchester United are top, three points ahead of their hosts. Superior goal different for Liverpool means they’ll go back to the summit with a win, while a point will suffice for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United.
Here are five of the most memorable times in which both teams have met at Anfield:
April 1997 – Four Headers and David James
In April 1997, Manchester United were metaphorically heading for the title when they visited Anfield. After the game, they were literally heading towards it, as a game of headers saw them come out on top.
Ahead of the game, Liverpool had an outside chance of winning a first title in seven years, as they sat five points behind leaders United. Inside the first 20 minutes, both sides had traded goals, as a header from Gary Pallister for United was cancelled out by another header from John Barnes.
But Pallister would score again, with his head again, as Liverpool goalkeeper David James misjudged a corner, three minutes before halftime. James would have any moment of poor judgment in the second half, as he fumbled another cross and allowed Andy Cole to score a third for United. That 3-1 win, with four games left for United, all but sealed a fourth title in five years, as they finished seven points ahead of the chasing pack, including Liverpool.
May 1999 – Paul Ince Stops Former Club at the Last
In May 1999, Manchester United were in a much tighter title race than in two years previous. Ferguson’s side were a point behind Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand, and four matches were remaining. Liverpool’s title hopes had faded in December, and had little chance of European football altogether, meaning all they could do was scupper their rivals’ chances.
But the Reds would fall behind after 23 minutes thanks to a Dwight Yorke header, and when Denis Irwin converted a penalty 12 minutes into the second half, it looked over. But Liverpool would win a penalty of their own, which was scored by Jamie Redknapp and then with 15 minutes left, Irwin was shown a second yellow card. United had to hold on with ten men – enter Paul Ince.
Ince had enjoyed six years as a Manchester United player, before playing for Liverpool, either side of a move to Inter Milan. His relationship with Ferguson had turned sour, as he has previously noted, and he didn’t make the United fans happy when he joined their bitter rivals. He was going to make them even angrier, as, being the Reds captain for this game, he bundled in an 89th-minute equaliser for the home side. Ferguson wasn’t much too pleased with the officiating – ‘the referee handed it to them’, he remarked afterwards. But that didn’t derail United’s title hopes, as they ended up as champions, before sealing a treble to boot.
December 2002 – Dudek Gifts Diego at the Anfield Road End
Ferguson’s early years at United were that of pressure, but his start to the 2002/03 season wasn’t glamorous either. Having reneged on his decision to retire in the summer, a sloppy start saw the press have a go at the Scot, with claims of whether he’d been past it (especially after meekly losing the title to Arsenal the season before).
United went into October outside the top seven, and in late November, with a succession of games coming up against their main challengers in Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, Fergie was deemed to be done. ‘Three games to finish Fergie’, the papers dubbed it. But United came out of the first of that trilogy in good stead, blazing past Newcastle 5-3.
Then to Anfield, on December 1. In what was a rather dour affair, the game came to life in the 63rd minute when Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek let a back-pass squirm under his body and into the path of Diego Forlan, who tapped it into an empty net. ‘Christmas has come early’, commented Sky Sports’ Andy Gray.
Three minutes later Forlan scored again and, despite Sami Hyypia getting Liverpool on the scoresheet, the Red Devils held on for the win. They followed that with victory over Arsenal as well and ended the season as champions. As for Liverpool, it was another season of false dawns in terms of the title race. Little did they know how much they had to endure before becoming champions again.
September 2008 – Reds End Anfield Win Drought
When Liverpool and Manchester United met in September 2008, it didn’t feel that consequential that early in the season. But prior to this game, the Reds had not beaten United in the league at Anfield since November 2001. That drought looked to be extending when Carlos Tevez put United in front.
But an own goal from Wes Brown and a second-half strike from Ryan Babel would give Liverpool their first league win over their North-East at Anfield in almost seven years. Both teams would go head-to-head for the title, but it would be United who’d get to the wire first.
January 2020 – Reds March on to the Title
By the time Liverpool and Manchester United met at Anfield in the 2019/20 season, Liverpool were all but guaranteed a first league title since 1990. But the club, and city, were still quick to quiet down talk of being champions for the time being.
This game might have been a straightforward 2-0 – over far from ferocious United side – but this match, won by goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, was when Liverpool started to buy into the title talk. For the first time, Anfield was singing ‘we’re gonna win the league’.
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