Thomas Hein
Title hopefuls Manchester United travelled to Anfield at the weekend to face off against Liverpool in perhaps the biggest match in English football. All eyes are always on the duo when they square off, and Sunday evening was no different. Oddschecker, which compares Premier League odds and free offers, still makes the Red Devils outside candidates for the title this term.
However, following Arsenal’s come-from-behind last-gasp victory over Bournemouth, those chances have dimmed somewhat.
Over the years, United have enjoyed some memorable days at Anfield. Heated contests, memorable comebacks, last gasp winners—the tie really has seen it all over the years.
With the pair comfortably being the two most successful clubs in English football, there is no surprise that some of the country’s all-time greats have featured in the contests. With that being said, let’s take a look at two of Manchester United’s most memorable Anfield victories.
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United – March 2007
Back in 2007, many thought that Liverpool were a club on their way back. Just two years prior, they came back from the dead to beat AC Milan in Istanbul to secure the UEFA Champions League for the fifth time in their history.
In the 2006/07 season, they would defeat reigning champions Barcelona and English champions Chelsea to reach the final once again.
Manchester United meanwhile hadn’t won the Premier League in the three seasons prior, somewhat of a drought in the days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
They enjoyed a renaissance in 2006/07 however, with the dynamic duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney firing them to the top of the Premier League. This encounter at Anfield came at the business end of the season and was crucial for both sides’ hopes.
The game wasn’t one for the neutrals and it was a scrappy affair, with neither side truly threatening. As they so often did under Fergie however, it was United who found a last gasp winner from the unlikeliest of sources.
Irish defender John O’Shea would pop up in injury time to net the winner, a result that was huge in ensuring that United pipped Chelsea to the title that season.
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United – September 2012
After being beaten to the Premier League title by rivals Manchester City in the final minute of the final game of the previous season, Sir Alex Ferguson took preventative measures in the summer to ensure that his side returned to the English top-flight’s summit.
Those measures came in the name of Robin van Persie, who arrived for £24m from fellow top-four side Arsenal. The Flying Dutchman was the top scorer in the league the previous campaign, netting 30 goals for the Gunners, and he continued in that same vein at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils started the new season with a disappointing defeat to Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton. Following that though, the club reeled off three consecutive wins, and their Dutch striker netted four goals during those games. Liverpool meanwhile were enduring a difficult start to life under Brendan Rodgers.
They hadn’t won any of their first four games in charge and had to endure disappointing defeats away at West Brom and at home to Arsenal. As such, Manchester United headed down the M62 as favourites and full of confidence.
The match couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the hosts when midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was dismissed early on.
That didn’t stop them from taking the lead shortly after half-time from captain Steven Gerrard. United were on the back foot and in trouble, but they would come out fighting.
Fullback Rafael would rattle home an equaliser with a thunderbolt out of nothing. Then it was their talismanic Dutchman who would net a late winner from the penalty spot.
United would go on to secure their 20th top-flight title the following May, still their most recent Premier League triumph to date.
