Manchester United and Liverpool are the two juggernauts of England and European football. With a combined 136 trophies between the two clubs, no one can argue that these two aren’t England’s biggest and most successful clubs. Very fine margins separating the two. Every season or two, they take over each other in trophies won, and the difference is very shallow, with an accumulated 67 trophies each. Manchester United has the head in England, while Liverpool has the advantage of having more glory in Europe.
We have been fascinated by some amazing encounters between the two fierce rivals. Controversy, passion, quality, glory, and goals. This fixture just never disappoints. Before the anticipated matchday, let’s look into some of the five most eye-catching encounters between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
5: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool (2010)
One of 3 Manchester United players to be scoring a hattrick against Liverpool is Dimitar Berbatov, alongside Stan Pearson and Denis Law. The Bulgarian striker was on one of his very clinical days as he scored either side of the interval giving a comfortable 3-2 for United against Liverpool. Apart from the hattrick itself, the star moment of the match was Berbatov’s fascinating bicycle kick that ended up in the back of the net.
The goal ends up in history as one of the most iconic games in this derby and the Premier League itself. United deserved their win, but United’s rare defensive errors threw Liverpool a lifeline. Steven Gerrard scored twice from the spot, both errors being on Fernando Torres. Despite Liverpool, in the end, pushing for a point, Manchester United comfortably won, seeing off any threat from Liverpool and bagging a well-deserved three points.
4: Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool 2009
A true Premier League classic, but immense misery for Sir Alex Ferguson‘s men. A match that took a really surprising turn of events as Liverpool came back from behind and beat the Premier League champions by four goals to 1. It looked like a routine win for the Red Devils as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty, gave them an early advantage, and looked to stretch their lead at the top of the table. But Fernando Torres had other plans when he forced Nemanja Vidic into a mistake and went on to put the ball past Van Der Sar.
The highlight of the game was not only the thrashing Liverpool gave to the champions, but it was a horror show for Nemanja Vidic, who was usually world-class but was Tormented by the hands of Fernando Torres and had one of his worst games in a United jersey. His afternoon was summed up when he was sent off with 15 minutes left of the game.
3: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 2012
The scoreline was not as flattering as it should have been, but the immense controversy surrounding this match was unprecedented. The famous altercation between two players of either side, Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra, was the town’s take. Both players faced each other on the pitch for the first time in the Premier League since Suarez came back from a hefty 8-match ban when he racially abused Patrice Evra the last time they met. The tone of the match was set when Suarez ignored Evra’s handshake in the pre-match formalities, and a lot of tension and rage grew between the two sides.
Manchester United secured the 3 points with a brace from Wayne Rooney. Suarez pulled back a late goal that threatened to deprive United of a win. There was more controversy at the final whistle. After United won, Evra celebrated the win right before Luis Suarez, creating a heated exchange of words and pushes between the Liverpool and United players. Concluding an afternoon that wasn’t the most appetizing Premier League advertisement but still entertaining and especially satisfying for the Manchester United fans.
2: Manchester United 4-3 Liverpool 2024 (FA CUP)
One of the most entertaining and eye-catching games last year was Manchester United’s win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final. They beat them in extra time and secured a place in the FA Cup semi-finals in Wembley. Something even sweeter about this victory was that the Red Devils went on to win the cup, beating Manchester City in the final. They produced a spirited performance in a match where Liverpool headed in as clear favorites, and United struggled throughout the year with injuries and form.
For the first time last season, United looked like they meant some business, and they proved it. The match headed onto extra time, with the score finishing 3-3 in a fanatic 90 minutes of football. Amad Diallo stole the show right at the end, where Liverpool succumbed to a counterattack from a failed corner attempt. After a two v one situation in favor of United, Diallo scored the winner in the game’s dying moments and sent his team to Wembley.
1: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 1999 (FA Cup)
There is no comprehension of the significance of this victory over Liverpool, even in a season as pivotal as Manchester United’s treble season. The importance of this victory and the sheer delight for the home side in just the game’s dying moments make it so entertaining and iconic. Manchester United returned from a goal down and won 2-1 at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s expense, spawning all the history made by Alex Ferguson’s team over the remainder of the campaign.
Trailing by a Michael Owen header in just the third minute, there was immense frustration around Old Trafford as they tried but were unable to break down a dogged Liverpool defense.. until the 88th minute when Dwight Yorke tapped in the equalizer. Rather than settling for a replay at Anfield, United pushed on and scored an injury-time winner, which had the fans going crazy! Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with his first touch of the game, finished it brilliantly into the Stretford End goal. Manchester United were eventual winners of the cup and later completed a remarkable treble, the only side along with Manchester City to do so in England.
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