Liverpool vs Manchester United

The Red Rivalry

Liverpool vs Manchester United is undoubtedly the fiercest rivalry in English Football, the matches between these two titans of English Football are known as Northwest Derby.

Apart from being fierce rivals both Manchester United and Liverpool are also two of the most successful clubs in England.

Manchester United have won the English First Division/Premier League title a record 20 times, edging out their rivals Liverpool who has only 18 League Titles to their credit. However when it comes to European Competitions, Liverpool has a comfortable lead over their arch rivals with 5 champions league titles to United’s 3.

Competitions Manchester United Wins Liverpool Wins
League Titles 20 18
FA Cup 11 7
League Cup 4 8
Champions League 3 5
UEFA Cup 0 3
Total 38 41
 captain Steven Gerrard and United captain Wayne Rooney

Two of England’s best and Captains of their respective clubs – Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and United captain Wayne Rooney

The matches between the two are usually played during mid-day; this is to discourage the fans from drinking and also because of the huge media interest in this match. Both Manchester United and Liverpool apart from being successful are also two of the most popular football clubs having supporters’ worldwide.

Due to the intense rivalry between the two teams no player transfer has taken place between the clubs since 1964. The last player to have transferred from one club to another was Phil Chisnall who moved from United to Liverpool.

Though no direct transfers have taken place since 1964, three players have played for both Manchester United and Liverpool since Phil Chisnall.

Liverpool Legend Peter Breadsley

Liverpool Legend Peter Breadsley

Peter Beardsley: –  Peter Beardsley played for United during the 1982/83 season but his appearances for the club were limited to just one and that to in a league cup match vs Bournemouth. After moving from United at the end of the season Beardsley went on to play for two other clubs before finding his way to Liverpool in 1987. He went to have a highly successful career with Liverpool that spanned for four seasons, till 1991

Former Liverpool and Manchester United player Paul Ince

Former Liverpool and Manchester United player Paul Ince

Paul Ince: – Ince played for United from 1989 to 1995 making over 200 appearances for the club. After leaving United, Ince joined Inter de Milan and played there for two seasons, and in 1997 Ince made his return to English football by joining his former club’s bitter rivals. Ince would play for Liverpool till 1999 before he left to join Middlesbrough.

 

 

Micheal Owen

Micheal Owen

Michael Owen: – Owen was a Liverpool academy product that made his first senior appearance for Liverpool in 1996. Owen would go on to become one of the greatest to have played for Liverpool. He was a part of 2001 treble winning Liverpool team and was conferred with the Ballon’dor for his part in Liverpool’s achievement. Owen would leave Merseyside in 2004 joining Real Madrid. He also played for Newcastle after Real before joining United in 2009. Owen would stay with United till 2012 before moving to Stoke City and finishing his career there.

Memorable Liverpool vs Manchester United Matches

Liverpool vs United matches are always entertaining and full of action, here are some of the most memorable matches between the two great rivals: –

  1. Liverpool vs Manchester United (3-3), April 1988

Liverpool went into this match and soon to be crowned league champions while United were second in the league with no hope of catching up. Liverpool proved why they deserved to be champions as at Half-time the score read 3-1 in favour of Liverpool.  Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon scored for Liverpool while United’s lone goal at half-time was by Bryan Robson.

After Half-time United made a remarkable comeback scoring twice in the second-half with Robson scoring the first and Gordon Strachan scoring the second goal of the half to leave the game 3-3. Strachan went on to celebrate the team’s third goal in front of the Kop by pretending to smoke a cigar.

  1. Liverpool vs Manchester United (3-3) at Anfield, January 1994

Probably every Liverpool fan young and old will know about the “Miracle of Istanbul”, the night when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League. Before 2005 this match between Liverpool and Manchester United was arguably the greatest comeback in Liverpool history.

United came into this match as league leaders by a comfortable margin and United proved why they were the leaders by going 3-0 up at Anfield. But Liverpool weren’t going down without a fight. Nigel Clough got 2 back for Liverpool before the Half-time and the comeback was completed in the second-half when Neil Ruddock scored the 3rd for Liverpool.

3-3! Mission comeback completed.

  1. Manchester United vs Liverpool (1-4) at Old Trafford, 2009

Manchester United came into this match as the league leaders and Liverpool were at no.2 and had the smallest of chances to over-take United and win the league. At the end of the match Liverpool hopes were still alive as they thumped United 4-1 despite going a goal down at first. First goal of the game was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo for United via a penalty.

Liverpool would come back through Fernando Torres who scored the equaliser which was followed by Gerrard converting a spot-kick earning Liverpool a 2-1 lead at Half-time.

After the break it was all Liverpool, as Liverpool went on to score goals number 3 and 4 through Fabio Aurelio and Andreas Dossena respectively.

  1. Manchester United vs Liverpool (0-3) at Old Trafford, 2014

Liverpool came into this match on a roll and sniffing at the possibility of a first Premier League title, meanwhile United were having a real struggle of a season and were hoping to turn it around with a good performance in the Northwest Derby.

Liverpool ended up thumping United 3-0 with Liverpool Captain Gerrard scoring two penalties and Luis Suarez scoring the third.

United captain Nemanja Vidic was sent off in this match, his third sending off in a Northwest Derby.

  1. Manchester United vs Liverpool (2-1) at Wembley, May 1977. FA Cup Final

All the three goals in this game came during a frantic five minutes in the second half of this match. Stuart Pearson scored first for United in the 51st minute but Liverpool was quick to give a response as they scored the equaliser in the 53rd minute. The last/cup winning goal was scored by Jimmy Greenhoff.

United’s victory meant they stopped Liverpool from becoming the first team to achieve the treble of League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

  1. Manchester United vs Liverpool (2-1) at Old Trafford, January 1999

The last match in our list may not have been a high stakes game (at that time) but it certainly was an entertainer. It was the fourth round of the FA Cup. Liverpool went ahead through a Michael Owen goal and would hold on to their slender lead till late in the second half when Dwight Yorke equalised for United. Ole Gunnar Sloskjaer would go on to win the match for the Red Devils in Injury time.

United would go on to become the first English team to do a treble of FA Cup, Premier League title and Champions League title that season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYiO7PoCZyY

Head to Head Stats

Total Matches: – 188

United wins: – 76

Liverpool wins: – 64

Draws: – 51

 

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