Source: Daily_Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson: Classic clashes with Liverpool
[LNB]With Sir Alex Ferguson around it's been a season of milestones at Manchester United.[LNB]The Old Trafford boss hit 24 years in the job back in November and aims to end the season by winning a record 19th top flight title with the Red Devils.[LNB]He is due to hit another landmark on Sunday when United travel to Anfield as he takes charge of his 50th league game against Liverpool.[LNB]So far he boasts a record of W23 D12 L14, here Sportsmail takes a look back at what could be his personal favourites.[LNB]Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United 4/4/1988Just like this Sunday it was Dalglish v Fergie, only it was Dalglish's Liverpool side who were top dogs in the country back in the 1980s.[LNB]A win in this fixture would still have given the Red Devils a fighting chance of lifting their first league title under Ferguson, and they took the lead through Bryan Robson.[LNB] United delight: Bryan Robson wheels away in delight after scoring his second goal[LNB]But in a destructive 10 minute spell either side of the interval, Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon propelled the hosts into a 3-1 lead.[LNB]Captain Marvel hit back with his second goal of the game before Gordon Strachan equalised 12 minute from the end.[LNB]The Scot's smoking cigar celebration didn't go down well with the Anfield crowd, but it was Dalglish's Reds who had the last laugh when they lifted the league title a month later.[LNB]Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool 18/10/1992By now Dalglish was gone and Fergie was up against Graeme Souness in the first Premier League meeting between the sides.[LNB]And it looked to be Souness who would leave Old Trafford with the bragging rights after his side took a 2-0 lead through first half strikes from Don Hutchinson and Ian Rush.[LNB]Liverpool held out for the majority of the second half but Mark Hughes pounced for the hosts 12 minutes from time to set up a grand finale, before again scoring in the final minute to deny Souness' side their first away victory of the season.[LNB]United went on to win their first league title since 1967, while Liverpool limped home in sixth place - the balance of power in England was starting to shift.[LNB]Liverpool 1-3 Manchester United 19/4/1997Under Roy Evans, Liverpool were steadily getting back to their title challenging ways and victory in this late season clash would have taken them top of the table.[LNB]But United hadn't read the script and took an early lead through Gary Pallister before veteran John Barnes equalised for the hosts.[LNB]United's centre-back recorded a rare brace before half-time leaving Evans with a big team talk at the break.[LNB] Pure delight: Andy Cole scored United's third goal in 1997[LNB]But instead of a Liverpool fight back, United increased their lead further just after the hour mark through Andy Cole and comfortably held on.[LNB]The win took Fergie's side five points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand, effectively ending Evans' hopes of winning the title.[LNB]Liverpool 2-3 Manchester United 11/9/1999One of the most incident packed clashes in recent years, and by now Gerard Houllier was Fergie's opposite number.[LNB]It took only three minute for Jamie Carragher to score an own goal to give United the lead before Andy Cole doubled the advantage 15 minute later.[LNB] Agony: Liverpool fans can't believe it as Massimo Taibi makes another save [LNB]Massimo Taibi making his debut in goal for United, handed Liverpool the initiative when he flapped at a free-kick allowing Sami Hyypia to head one back. But another own goal from Carragher before half time restored United's two goal lead.[LNB]Patrik Berger again pulled Liverpool within a goal of the treble winners, before United were reduced to 10 men after Cole was sent off for lashing out at Rigobert Song.[LNB]Taibi displayed a (very) rare impressive showing though and managed to hold out Michael Owen & Co to seal all three points for Fergie's men.[LNB]Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool 5/4/2003A very bad day at the office for Houllier's Liverpool as Fergie took great joy in recording the biggest margin of victory between the teams in the Premier League era.[LNB]It started off badly and just got worse for the visitors. Sami Hyypia was sent off after just four minutes for bringing down Ruud van Nistelrooy in the box, and the Dutchman made no mistake in putting United ahead from the spot.[LNB] Spot on: Ruud van Nistelrooy scores his second goal from the penalty spot in 2003[LNB]The striker then added another penalty just after half time before Ryan Giggs made it three when he headed home David Beckham's whipped cross.[LNB]The Red Devils looked to have completed the scoring but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added a fourth in the final minute when he fired low past Jerzy Dudek at his near post.[LNB]United would go on to win the Premier League title once again with Liverpool finishing fifth. However, Houllier did have the satisfaction in Liverpool seeing off United in the League Cup final.[LNB] As Giggs celebrates 20 years for Man United, we pick his top 10 goalsJamie Carragher exclusive: What the Liverpool defender really thinks of Fergie, Neville and United[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, John Barnes, Gerard Houllier, Gary Pallister, Gordon Strachan, Ian Rush, Andy Cole, Steve McMahon, Bryan Robson, Sami Hyypia Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom
