Source: Daily_Mail
English football's greatest rivalry: A trip down sport's memory lane with Manchester United and Live
When you look at the history of English football two clubs stand far and away above the rest as the most successful.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]Glory nights: Manchester United players and manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrate their treble-clinching European Cup triumph in Barcelona in 1999[LNB]You only have to recall Liverpool's Champions League semi-final clash withChelsea in 2005, or United's last four showdown with Barcelona lastseason, to see that despite the passion of all supporters being watereddown in this country over the last couple of decades, the two clubsstill have something special, and indeed different to all the others.[LNB]The bitterness and anger from one toward the other will always bethere, you sense: I well recall in the 1980s when Liverpool were cleaning up that manyof their supporters still had a problem dealing with United.[LNB]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.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]Famous victories: Steven Gerrard shows off the European Cup after Liverpool's victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005[LNB]And even to this very day, for United fans of a certain age, nothingand no team in the game compare to Liverpool in terms of rivalry.[LNB]Itdoesn't matter how much you talk about doubles or trebles, or the factthat long ago Sir Alex Ferguson knocked Liverpool off their perch -that feeling is still there, a hangover from the years of Merseysidedomination that no amount of Alka Seltzer could totally cure.[LNB]Who am I to wax lyrical at length about the rivalry between the two? Apart from maybe to offer one opinion.[LNB]It's my belief that underneath all the anger, the bitterness and jealousy, simmers something else - respect.[LNB] Manchester United's extraordinary story has attracted millions of supporters from at home and across the world[LNB]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 dominanceunder Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool with their Bill Shankleys and Bob Paisleys,their nights of triumph on the continent.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB] Liverpool fans are known throughout the game and beyond for the fervour of their support on the big nights at Anfield[LNB]Games between the clubs have not always reflected the wider story: inthe 1980s a constant consolation for United fans was their superb record againstLiverpool (Hughes and Robson on that electric night at Maine Road inthe FA Cup semi-final, Norman Whiteside in the last minute at Anfield,the Russell Beardsmore inspired New Year's Day win at Old Trafford).[LNB]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).[LNB]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.[LNB]1977 FA CUP FINAL: UNITED 2 LIVERPOOL 1Liverpool were chasing a treble after winning the league title under Paisley .[LNB]Their famous pilgrimage to Rome was only days away, but first they had to beat their old rivals United at Wembley.[LNB]United for their part were determined to win the old pot, having lost in surprise fashion to second division Southampton in the 1976 final.[LNB][LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Stuart Pearson burst clear from Jimmy Greenhoff's clever header to put United in front, smashing a shot inside Ray Clemence's near post.[LNB]But Liverpool quickly struck back, with Jimmy Case superbly turning just inside the United penalty area and firing an equaliser into the top corner.[LNB] Martin Buchan shows the FA Cup to United supporters after victory over Liverpool at Wembley in 1977[LNB]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.[LNB]As an interesting aside compare and contrast the sporting nature of the events at the end of the final with the rancour of today.[LNB]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 ..[LNB]Liverpool would pick themselves up the following Wednesday in the Italian capital with a 3-1 victoryover Borussia Monchengladbach, to claim their first European Cup.[LNB][LNB]1983 MILK CUP FINAL: LIVERPOOL 2 UNITED 1Liverpool were in their pomp, United under Ron Atkinson were trying in vain to keep up.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Norman Whiteside gave United an early lead, superbly controlling the ball off his chestand turning to fire home.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]Ronnie Whelan celebrates his Liverpool winner with Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish showing their delight[LNB]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.[LNB]And so it was that Alan Kennedy fired a shot from distance that evaded the diving Gary Bailey and gave Liverpool their leveller.[LNB]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.[LNB] The Liverpool team and boss Bob Paisley celebrate their Milk Cup win in 1983[LNB]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).[LNB]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.[LNB][LNB]1988 FIRST DIVISION: LIVERPOOL 3 UNITED 3Quite 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.[LNB]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).[LNB]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.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]Manchester United captain Bryan Robson fires the first of his two goals past Bruce Grobbelaar at Anfield in 1988[LNB]Bryan Robson gave United the lead, but Liverpool came back with three goals either side of the break.[LNB]Steve McMahon scored Liverpool's third goal at Anfield[LNB]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'.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish held up his baby daughter Lauren to say the press would get more sense out of her.[LNB] Colin Gibson was sent off for a foul on Steve Nichol but United fought back to draw 3-3 at Anfield in 1988[LNB]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.[LNB]Alan Hansen would later joke that Liverpool 'were forever blowing doubles'.[LNB][LNB]1994 PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL 3 UNITED 3Now here was a match - a feast of a Premier League game that will stay long in the memory.[LNB]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.[LNB]Liverpool were in a largely 'transitional' period under Graeme Souness, with four years having passed since their previous title success in 1990.[LNB]And on this cold January night many home fans were fearing an embarrassment after just 24 minutes.[LNB] Ryan Giggs scored United's second goal in a memorable Premier League clash[LNB]Steve Bruce put the visitors in front, and a delightful lob from Ryan Giggs doubled United's advantage.[LNB]Dennis Irwin's superb free-kick then put United 3-0 up, to the delight of the travelling supporters.[LNB]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.'[LNB]Neil Ruddock delighted Anfield with a dramatic equaliser against United[LNB]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.[LNB]The second half was actually superb, with the action end to end and the drama unrelenting.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Roll on Anfield this Saturday lunchtime and the latest episode of a memorable saga.[LNB] Now bring on Manchester United, Liverpool striker Torres taunts title rivals after Real rout[LNB]Liverpool star Kuyt insists: We can beat champions United again after Real rout[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]MANCHESTER UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
