Camera kisses, overhead kicks, substitutes sent off and debuts to remember – games between Manchester United and Liverpool have had it all.
And, to help build up to a fixture that could have huge implications on the races for both the title and Champions League places, we thought we’d look back at some Premier League classics between the sides.
Whichever end of the M62 you call home, sit back, get scrolling and take a trip down memory lane.
Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United – January 1994
We’ll start in the second season of the Premier League era, when defending champions Manchester United went 3-0 up inside 25 minutes thanks to goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin.
The sharks seemed to be circling around under-pressure Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, but his side rallied and clawed themselves back into the game through a Nigel Clough double.
In a classic second half, that swung from one way to another, Liverpool completed an improbable comeback through Neil Ruddock’s header 11 minutes from time.
United would have the last laugh though, winning the league a whopping 32 points clear of Liverpool – who finished eighth.
As for Souness, an FA Cup defeat by Bristol City led to his resignation just weeks after the famous Anfield comeback.
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool – March 2009
There were plenty of cup classics between the pair in the early noughties, but things didn’t properly heat up in the league until 2009.
United looked set to go 10 points clear of second-placed Liverpool when Cristiano Ronaldo gave them an early lead from the penalty spot.
But the visitors soon turned things around through Fernando Torres and camera-kissing Steven Gerrard.
Torres hounded United’s Nemanja Vidic all game, with the defender sent off and Fabio Aurelio curling in the resulting free-kick, before Andrea Dossena lobbed in a fourth late on.
United were embarrassed at Old Trafford but only in the short-term, equalling Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles at the end of the season by finishing four points above the Reds.
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool – September 2010
A year later Manchester United inflicted more revenge thanks to a sensational performance from number nine Dimitar Berbatov.
The Bulgaria striker scored either side of the interval – the second a stunning overhead kick.
Liverpool hit back though, as Gerrard scored twice in six minutes, before Berbatov completed his hat-trick with a headed winner in the 84th minute.
United won the league that season, but lost out in the Champions League final to Barcelona. Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool finished sixth, 22 points behind their rivals.
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United – March 2015
Liverpool did the double over David Moyes’ Manchester United in the 2013-14 season, but struggled the following campaign.
Captain Steven Gerrard was sent off 38 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute, in a match that included a brilliant Juan Mata scissor kick.
Gerrard was introduced for Adam Lallana at the start of the second half, with United deservedly leading through Mata’s early goal.
But he was gone almost as quickly after stamping on United’s Ander Herrera in midfield.
In a frantic second period Mata doubled United’s lead with a superb volley, Daniel Sturridge netted a consolation goal, and United’s Wayne Rooney then had a late penalty saved by Simon Mignolet.
The Red Devils finished Louis van Gaal’s first season in charge in fourth, eight points clear of Brendan Rodgers’ sixth-placed Liverpool.
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United – March 2023
Fast-forward to the 2020s, and 13 months ago Liverpool delivered a phenomenal performance – which included Mohamed Salah becoming the club’s record Premier League goalscorer – to overwhelm United at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo gave the hosts a 1-0 lead, while Darwin Nunez netted two minutes after the restart to open the floodgates.
Ultimately Gakpo, Nunez and Salah all hit two, with Roberto Firmino completing the scoring in the 88th minute to secure the biggest win in the history of the fixture.
Seven days after winning the Carabao Cup, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United were given a brutal reality check.
They ended the season third, though, with Liverpool fifth.
Some more classic encounters
Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool – October 1995 – Eric Cantona made his first appearance after his eight-month ban, bagging a late leveller for United.
Liverpool 2-3 Manchester United – September 1999 – Jamie Carragher scored two own goals as United won at Anfield during their Treble-winning season.
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool – September 2015 – “Ohhhhh yes!” Anthony Martial netted on his debut in Rodgers’ final match against United as Liverpool manager.
Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool – October 2021 – The gulf in class was on full display as Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick to heap further pressure on under-pressure United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United – April 2022 – And in the same season Liverpool hit four more answered goals at Anfield, against a United side led by interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
What are your most memorable Premier League games between the sides? Let us know in the comments below.
