When you look at the history of English football two clubs stand
far and away above the rest as the most successful.
Of course other clubs have had their moments and have played a
major part in the rich tapestry of the game but when it comes to
trophies, reputation and international standing, Liverpool and
Manchester United stand alone.
At Parkhead to see United's European Cup match against Celtic
earlier this season, I thought that only the club from the east end
of Glasgow can compare in British football when it comes to the
sheer fanaticism and fervour - almost religious at times - that the
two English giants attract.
Glory nights: Manchester United players and manager Sir
Alex Ferguson celebrate their treble-clinching European Cup triumph
in Barcelona in 1999
You only have to recall Liverpool's Champions League semi-final
clash with Chelsea in 2005, or United's last four showdown with
Barcelona last season, to see that despite the passion of all
supporters being watered down in this country over the last couple
of decades, the two clubs still have something special, and indeed
different to all the others.
The bitterness and anger from one toward the other will always
be there, you sense: I well recall in the 1980s when Liverpool were
cleaning up that many of their supporters still had a problem
dealing with United.
I think it is the sheer size and glamour of the club from
Manchester - they were still all over the back pages despite their
great rivals picking up nearly all the big silver.
Famous victories: Steven Gerrard shows off the European
Cup after Liverpool's victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005
And even to this very day, for United fans of a certain age,
nothing and no team in the game compare to Liverpool in terms of
rivalry.
It doesn’t matter how much you talk about doubles or trebles, or
the fact that long ago Sir Alex Ferguson knocked Liverpool off
their perch – that feeling is still there, a hangover from the
years of Merseyside domination that no amount of Alka Seltzer could
totally cure.
Who am I to wax lyrical at length about the rivalry between the
two? Apart from maybe to offer one opinion.
It’s my belief that underneath all the anger, the bitterness and
jealousy, simmers something else – respect.
Manchester United's extraordinary story has attracted
millions of supporters from at home and across the world
Fans of both clubs, those that truly know of the game and its
history, respect (and yes, fear also) the other for their great
achievements – United with their incomparable Busby Babes and their
long years of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool with
their Bill Shankleys and Bob Paisleys, their nights of triumph on
the continent.
Liverpool fans for example happily sing ‘You ain't got no
history’ to Chelsea supporters, but would never dream of singing
such a thing about the club from the other end of the East Lancs
Road.
United and their supporters have enjoyed some right old
ding-dongs with Arsenal in the last dozen years or so, but those
fans truly worth their salt have always known that those battles
are a mere sideshow when it comes to matches against Liverpool.
Liverpool fans are known throughout the game and beyond
for the fervour of their support on the big nights at Anfield
Games between the clubs have not always reflected the wider
story: in the 1980s a constant consolation for United fans was
their superb record against Liverpool (Hughes and Robson on that
electric night at Maine Road in the FA Cup semi-final, Norman
Whiteside in the last minute at Anfield, the Russell Beardsmore
inspired New Year's Day win at Old Trafford).
And in the early part of this decade, when United were walking
away with titles, Liverpool enjoyed a number of victories (Danny
Murphy and his various winners at Old Trafford, that Steven Gerrard
screamer at Anfield, the League Cup victory in Cardiff).
And ahead of the latest instalment on Saturday, we look back at
four memorable matches of the past (I could have picked 24) – I am
as aware as anybody of the nature of the rivalry, so have carefully
chosen a Manchester United win, a Liverpool win and two draws ....
and you can’t say fairer than that.
Liverpool were chasing a treble after winning the league title
under Paisley .
Their famous pilgrimage to Rome was only days away, but first
they had to beat their old rivals United at Wembley.
United for their part were determined to win the old pot, having
lost in surprise fashion to second division Southampton in the 1976
final.
Tommy Docherty, one of the most charismatic if not the best of
United managers, had promised the Manchester public as much after
that painful defeat.
The first half at Wembley was a largely nondescript affair but
the match burst into life early in the second period with three
goals in five minutes.
Stuart Pearson burst clear from Jimmy Greenhoff's clever header
to put United in front, smashing a shot inside Ray Clemence's near
post.
But Liverpool quickly struck back, with Jimmy Case superbly
turning just inside the United penalty area and firing an equaliser
into the top corner.
Martin Buchan shows the FA Cup to United supporters
after victory over Liverpool at Wembley in 1977
United's winner had more than a touch of fortune about it, with
Lou Macari's shot deflecting off Greenhoff and beyond a helpess
Clemence.
As an interesting aside compare and contrast the sporting nature
of the events at the end of the final with the rancour of
today.
Many Liverpool supporters offered warm congratulations to their
great rivals, while many United fans (yes, this happened) sung
along to 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Different times indeed ..
Liverpool would pick themselves up the following Wednesday in
the Italian capital with a 3-1 victory over Borussia
Monchengladbach, to claim their first European Cup.
Liverpool were in their pomp, United under Ron Atkinson were
trying in vain to keep up.
But although United were no match for their rivals over a long
league season, they could always beat anybody on their day. Not
this day.
I maintain (but would be happy to have it corrected and put to
bed in my mind) that this was the last League Cup final not to be
covered live on television.
Norman Whiteside gave United an early lead, superbly controlling
the ball off his chest
and turning to fire home.
Ronnie Whelan celebrates his Liverpool winner with
Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish showing their delight
Liverpool looked to be running out of time to find an equaliser,
but what younger supporters may not realise is that long before the
days that late goals from United would come to characterise the
reign of Sir Alex, Liverpool made a happy habit themselves of
rescuing games late on.
And so it was that Alan Kennedy fired a shot from distance that
evaded the diving Gary Bailey and gave Liverpool their
leveller.
And in extra time Ronnie Whelan curled a superb second goal to
win the League Cup for the Merseysiders for the third year in
succession.
The Liverpool team and boss Bob Paisley celebrate their
Milk Cup win in 1983
Paisley, one of the nice men of the game, went first up the
Wembley steps to lift the trophy in his final season as Liverpool
boss (another thing to remember: winning pots mattered more then,
even the League Cup).
Both clubs would go on to enjoy celebrations in May, with
Liverpool successfully defending their league title and United
beating Brighton to win the FA Cup after a replay.
Quite simply a different era in the game - with Liverpool still
the premier force in English football and Alex Ferguson (he was
just plain Alex in those long ago days) just two years into his
extraordinary reign.
I actually put this down as the best Liverpool team of my memory
(surely a team that would have been strongly fancied to win the
European Cup were it not for the ban on English clubs).
But as I mentioned earlier, individual clashes rarely bore any
resemblance to the wider story in this decade and United would
storm back to stun Anfield on this spring afternoon.
Manchester United captain Bryan Robson fires the first
of his two goals past Bruce Grobbelaar at Anfield in 1988
Bryan Robson gave United the lead, but Liverpool came back with
three goals either side of the break.
Steve McMahon scored Liverpool's third goal at
Anfield
Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon were all on
target for the hosts - with John Motson screaming words to the
effect that it was a magnificent performance 'even by Liverpool
standards'.
Robson, who was time and again United's saviour in those years,
scored again to give United hope but when Colin Gibson was sent off
the points looked to be heading to Anfield.
But Gordon Strachan burst through to cooly score an equaliser
for United, and his celebrations in front of the Kop (remember him
smoking an imaginary cigar) would be one to savour for United
supporters.
The match was memorable enough, but the post-match interviews
were also explosive, with Ferguson complaining on the wireless that
decisions had gone against his side.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish held up his baby daughter
Lauren to say the press would get more sense out of her.
Colin Gibson was sent off for a foul on Steve Nichol
but United fought back to draw 3-3 at Anfield in 1988
Liverpool would go on to win the league title, winning by a
distance from runners-up United, but they would suffer the shock of
a lifetime in losing the FA Cup final to Wimbledon.
Alan Hansen would later joke that Liverpool 'were forever
blowing doubles'.
Now here was a match – a feast of a Premier League game that
will stay long in the memory.
United had a wonderful side that season (many United fans will
always have this down as their favourite team under Sir Alex) which
enthralled football lovers everywhere with their attacking
style.
Liverpool were in a largely 'transitional' period under Graeme
Souness, with four years having passed since their previous title
success in 1990.
And on this cold January night many home fans were fearing an
embarrassment after just 24 minutes.
Ryan Giggs scored United's second goal in a memorable
Premier League clash
Steve Bruce put the visitors in front, and a delightful lob from
Ryan Giggs doubled United's advantage.
Dennis Irwin's superb free-kick then put United 3-0 up, to the
delight of the travelling supporters.
Martin Tyler, in an echo of Motson's words from my previous
choice, shouted that 'even by Manchester United's standards it was
simply stunning.'
Neil Ruddock delighted Anfield with a dramatic
equaliser against United
But Nigel Clough pulled a goal back with a fine shot from
distance and when he scored again before half-time the comeback was
on.
The second half was actually superb, with the action end to end
and the drama unrelenting.
The game was always likely to finish 3-3 or 2-4, and it turned
out to be the former when Neil Ruddock headed home with 11 minutes
remaining.
The home support was sent into delirium. It was as if everything
had reversed: now it was Liverpool fans who had to rely on positive
results against United for their consolations.
United would go on to win their first league and cup double,
seeing off Blackburn in the title race and beating Chelsea 4-0 in
the FA Cup final at Wembley.
If somebody had suggested then that 15 years on Liverpool would
still be waiting to add to their 18 league titles, you would have
dismissed them out of sight.
As it is, of course, United have since gone on to dominate
football for near enough a generation and have a chance to equal
Liverpool's record of 18 titles this season.
Roll on Anfield this Saturday lunchtime and the latest episode
of a memorable saga.
