United Liverpool – 10 memorable moments
The Greatest Manchester United Vs Liverpool Moments
Manchester United vs Liverpool. The meeting of the two most successful clubs in the history of English football is always an eagerly anticipated fixture.
The game might not have the significance of being a title battle in recent years, but it is always a big deal for supporters looking to put one over on their arch rivals.
The two clubs have thrown up some enthralling matches, and breathtaking drama over the years.
In the build up to the teams facing up on Saturday tea-time, this is Silly Season‘s countdown of the Top 10 Manchester United Liverpool moments.
10. Steven Gerrard stamp (Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2- 2015)
The last meeting between the sides saw one of the most extraordinary moments in the history of this rivalry. Gerrard sat on the bench frustrated, as he saw his side go into half time 1-0 down.
Brendan Rodgers bought him immediately on, and his perfect tackle was greeted by an almighty roar from the Anfield crowd.
But then Ander Herrera slid in for a late challenge, and the Liverpool skipper stamped on the Spaniard. He was sent off having been on the field just 38 seconds, the quickest ever sending off in this fixture.
9. John Arne Riise free kick (Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1- 2001)
John Arne Riise was always a cult hero at Anfield, and he will probably be best remembered for this absolute thunderbolt against United back in 2001.
Liverpool had a free kick 20 yards out. Didi Hamann set it up for the Norwegian to smash it, and boy did he do that.
Riise swung his left boot at the ball, and it arrowed into the top corner. It was surprising he didn’t take the net off with the ferocity of the shot.
8. John O’Shea late winner (Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1- 2007)
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, we’d become accustomed to United grabbing late winning goals, when they hadn’t played well, and this was just that.
But it came from the most unlikely of sources, in defender John O’Shea. Cristiano Ronaldo fired in a free kick from out wide, Pepe Reina parried, and there was O’Shea in the six yard box, who kept his nerve to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
It was a crucial goal that took the visitors a step closer to the 2006/07 Premier League.
7. United’s Old Trafford thumping (Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4- 2009)
Liverpool had to win to keep their title challenge going to United, and they pulled off a stunning win, with Rafa Benitez putting one over on Sir Alex in his own backyard.
Fernando Torres was in scintillating form, and gave United centre back Nemanja Vidic the run around all day. Vidic was later sent off, but it was his mistake that gifted Torres an equaliser.
Steven Gerrard scored a penalty to give Liverpool the lead, and then a Fabio Aurelio free kick and an audacious chip from Andrea Dossena netted rounded off a famous victory.
6. United FA Cup comeback in 90th min (Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1- 1999)
They didn’t know it at the time, but this victory turned out to be a huge turning point in United’s 1998/99 season, where they of course went onto win a historic treble.
In the FA Cup 4th round at Old Trafford, the Red Devils were 1-0 down until the 88th minute, when Dwight Yorke tapped in from 2 yards out to equalise.
It looked destined for a replay, but then United did what they would repeat in the Champions League final. Score two in two minutes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired the ball home to round off an incredible ending to the match.
5. Patrice Evra Luis Suarez: Part 2 (Manchester United 2 Liverpool- 2012)
Back in 2011, Luis Suarez was given an 8 match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra on the pitch at Anfield. The bad blood between the clubs was increased when in Liverpool’s subsequent match they came out wearing t-shirts in support of Suarez.
Before the match in 2012, all the attention was on whether the two would shake hands. bBut Suarez refused to shake Evra’s hand. That added even more spice to a tempestuous encounter, where United won 2-1.
Evra at the end of the game then celebrated right infront of Suarez, a game that certainly would not be remembered for the football.
4. Dimitar Berbatov overhead kick & hat-trick (Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2- 2010)
It was an early season meeting of the two giants, and it turned out to be the Dimitar Berbatov show. Berbatov didn’t always turn it on at Old Trafford, but boy did he deliver in this game with a hat-trick, including a stunning overhead kick goal.
Nani crossed the ball from the right. The ball was slightly behind the Bulgarian, who controlled it, and then produced a magical overhead that clipped off the underside of the bar.
He then came up with the winning goal, his hatrick with a header, and forever stamp his mark on this famous fixture.
3. Eric Cantona volley wins FA Cup (Liverpool 0 Manchester United- 1996)
The 1996 FA Cup final will be remembered for two things. Liverpool’s ludicrous white suits (United’s weren’t great too mind), and a moment of magic from the King, Eric Cantona.
David Beckham’s corner was only punched from David James to Cantona, who volleyed the ball low and into the net.
It was another late goal from United, that clinched them the double, where at the start of the season, Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen said ‘You can’t win anything with kids’.
2. Gary Neville celebration (Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0- 2006)
Liverpool fans won’t be pleased to see this so high up on the list, but it was undoubtedly a memorable moment.
On the 90th minute, Ryan Giggs had a free kick to whip in from the left. He delivered, and it was a towering leap from Rio Ferdinand, who headed the ball into the net, despite the efforts of Pepe Reina to keep it out.
That was dramatic enough, but then United skipper Gary Neville, at the other end of the pitch, ran towards the away fans and celebrated in front of them, jumping up and down, and pointing to the United crest. A perfect moment for United fans at least.
1. Liverpool’s great comeback at Anfield (Liverpool 3 Manchester United 3)
We have to go back 20 years for this moment, at number two, and it was an absolutely classic match between these two rivals. Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and then a brilliant Denis Irwin free-kick made it 3-0 in just 25 minutes.
But then a brace from Nigel Clough before half-time put Liverpool right back in it. The home side kept pressing, but finally it was Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock who completed the turn around with a bullet header. An incredible match.
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