The most famous fixture in English football takes place on Sunday with Manchester United v Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Sunday’s meeting will be the 236th meeting between both clubs. There have been many thrilling encounters over the years. Here are five classic encounters at Old Trafford.
Manchester United v Liverpool: Top Five Games
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool (September 2010)
This early-season meeting between the great rivals saw Manchester United looking to keep pace with early league leaders Chelsea. Meanwhile, Liverpool had an awful start to the season and had picked up just five points from their first four Premier League games under new manager Roy Hodgson.
Just before half-time, Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring for United by powering a header past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. The game is most remembered for Berbatov’s second goal, a stunning overhead kick to double United’s advantage.
However, Liverpool came roaring back. Steven Gerrard fired in a penalty after Fernando Torres was fouled by Jonny Evans inside the penalty area. Then six minutes later, Gerrard slipped a free-kick past a poorly assembled United wall and past Edwin Van der Sar. But Berbatov would have the final say, grabbing his hat-trick and the winner six minutes from time.
Manchester United would go on to win the Premier League title. Meanwhile, Liverpool finished a lowly sixth and would sack Roy Hodgson midway through the season.
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (March 2009)
Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford in March 2009 for one of the most anticipated clashes in recent years. Liverpool were looking to cut the gap to Manchester United at the top of the table to just four points.
However, it looked like Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would extend their lead at the top when a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty gave them an early lead.
Liverpool equalised five minutes later, as Fernando Torres capitalised on a mistake from Nemanja Vidic and coolly beat Edwin Van der Sar. A minute before half-time, Liverpool completed the turnaround via a Steven Gerrard penalty.
United’s day of misery was further compounded as Vidic was sent off for a foul on Gerrard. From the resulting free-kick, Fabio Aurelio brilliantly curled the ball into the net from 25-yards.
A day for Liverpool to remember was complete when substitute Andrea Dossena lobbed the ball past Van der Sar to make it 4-1. It was Liverpool’s biggest victory at Old Trafford since 1978. But Manchester United would go on to win the Premier League title, finishing four points ahead of Liverpool.
Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool (April 2003)
Manchester United took on Liverpool in April 2003 looking for revenge after losing the League Cup final just a month earlier to the same opponents.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy gave United the lead via the penalty spot after just four minutes which saw Sami Hyypia sent off for bringing the forward down inside the penalty area.
He added a second again from the penalty spot midway through the second half. Ryan Giggs made it three, scoring his first home goal in the league in two years. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added a fourth late on to cap a memorable day for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Manchester United would go on to win the league title, finishing five points ahead of Arsenal. Meanwhile, Liverpool would finish the campaign in fifth place.
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (March 2014)
In March 2014, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford looking to keep up their Premier League title push. Meanwhile, Manchester United were enduring a difficult season under David Moyes and found themselves languishing in seventh place.
Two Steven Gerrard penalties 11 minutes before the end of the first half and a minute into the second half put Liverpool in charge.
Incredibly, Gerrard could have scored a hat-trick of penalties. Nemanja Vidic brought down Daniel Sturridge in the penalty area, which saw the defender be sent off. However, Gerrard missed the resulting penalty.
Luis Suarez made it three with six minutes remaining to make it a memorable day for Brendan Rodgers’s side. They would end up finishing second in the Premier League behind title winners Manchester City.
For Manchester United, they would end up down in seventh, their lowest league finish in 24 years, in a season where the game v Liverpool was one to forget.
Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool (October 1992)
The two great rivals served up a four-goal thriller in October 1992. Liverpool came into the match down in 16th place, while Manchester United were in eighth in the then 22 team Premier League.
Liverpool took the lead through Don Hutchinson after 23 minutes. They looked like they were heading for all three points as Ian Rush made it two just before half-time. The goal saw Rush break Roger Hunt’s scoring record for Liverpool as he scored his 287th goal for the Anfield side.
Mark Hughes scored with just 12 minutes to go to give Manchester United hope of salvaging a point. Then in the 90th minute, Hughes would score his second – heading the ball into the net to send Old Trafford wild.
Manchester United would go on to win the Premier League title, ending their 26-year wait for an English league title. Liverpool finished down in sixth.
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