It’s almost time for the biggest classic in English football. It’s almost time for Liverpool vs. Manchester United, the two most successful clubs in England who absolutely hate each other to the core. Once the legendary Bill Shankly said, “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” These are the games when this is felt by each and every football fan across the globe.
Even though Liverpool were knocked off their perch quite a long time back by Manchester United, the Red Devils are not the same anymore and the charm of this game is something else. One of the biggest cross-town derbies in the world if not the biggest, The North West Derby is the headliner fixture of the eighth game week.
While we build up for the exciting fixture at Anfield, let us take a look at the three best games between the two footballing giants in recent years-
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United, 22nd March 2015
Liverpool fans won’t have fond memories of this game. It was their hero Steven Gerrard’s last ever game against the Red Devils and he made it memorable but not the way the fans wanted. ‘Gone in 38 seconds’, United fans still taunt the former English and Liverpool skipper for his red card just 38 seconds after coming on at half-time.
An early Juan Mata goal gave the visitors a 0-1 lead in the 14th minute. The Spaniard doubled the lead on the brink of the 59th minute. Daniel Sturridge made it 1-2 in the 69th minute but 10-men Liverpool could not complete the comeback. United went on to finish in the top four and Liverpool’s season pretty much disintegrated after closing the gap to just two points.
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool, 16th March 2014
Exactly one year before the game that Gerrard will still repent for, he had a memorable game against the team he grew up hating. Liverpool won the game 0-3 at Old Trafford but it could have easily been worse for the Red Devils. Stevie G scored two from the spot. He could have easily made it three but missed the third one as he hit the post. Luis Suarez tripled the lead for the visitors in the 84th minute.
Manchester united 2-1 Liverpool, January 2013
It was Daniel Sturridge’s first ever game for Liverpool against the Red Devils and he found the back of the net in some style. Liverpool still lost the game as Robin van Persie and Nemanja Vidic found the back of the net for the hosts. Sturridge pulled one back for the Reds in the 57th minute but Brendan Rodgers’ side failed to complete the comeback. Liverpool did take their revenge though as they were victorious in the following season, courtesy to another Sturridge strike.
