Salah, Solskjaer, and the men in white suits.
English football’s fiercest rivalry resumes on Monday, as Manchester United take on Liverpool at Old Trafford.
With 133 major trophies between them, including 39 league titles, this is unquestionably a meeting of the country’s two biggest and most successful clubs, even if both arrive into the fixture in need of a win after underwhelming (Liverpool) or downright appalling (United) starts to the campaign.
Last season’s ‘contests’ were anything but, Liverpool winning 5-0 at Old Trafford in October and following that up with an equally dominant 4-0 win at Anfield in April. The job of Erik ten Hag, the new man in charge at United, is to at least make things competitive this time around.
Whatever happens, though, it’ll do well to match the drama, excitement and sheer quality of some of these classic meetings from the last 30 years…
GettyRuddock’s rescue job: Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United, January 1994
It says a lot about how far Liverpool fell in the early 1990s that a home draw, in which they had trailed 3-0 after 23 minutes, represents one of the high points.
But this was the last Liverpool-United game played in front of the old standing Kop, and boy were they given a treat.
United, en route to their second successive league title, raced into a seemingly-unassailable lead through Steve Bruce’s header, Denis Irwin’s free kick and Ryan Giggs’ perfect chip, but Liverpool hit back before half-time through two goals from the otherwise underwhelming Nigel Clough.
The second half ebbed and flowed until, with 11 minutes left, Stig Inge Bjornebye clipped in a cross and Neil Ruddock attacked it with venom, heading past Peter Schmeichel for 3-3.
United went on to win the league as expected, while Liverpool would part company with manager Graeme Souness a few weeks after this game. They ended the season eighth, their lowest finish for 31 years.
AdvertisementGettyCantona’s comeback: Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool, October 1995
It was all about one man when Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford, early in the 1995-96 season.
Eric Cantona had served an eight-month ban after attacking a Crystal Palace fan during a game at Selhurst Park, but had been convinced to remain at United by manager Alex Ferguson, who thrust him straight into the starting XI for Liverpool’s visit.
Ferguson was rewarded instantly, Cantona creating a goal for Nicky Butt inside two minutes, but Liverpool had their own superstar emerging at that time, and Robbie Fowler levelled with a wonderful strike past Schmeichel, before muscling out Gary Neville to make it 2-1.
Cantona, though, had the last word, equalising from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining, celebrating in iconic fashion by climbing the stanchion.
Liverpool got their revenge when the sides met at Anfield that December, Fowler scoring twice in a 2-0 win, but Cantona would have the final say in the campaign…
GettyThe White Suits final: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool, May 1996
It will be forever be remembered as the game which cemented the image of Liverpool’s ‘Spice Boys’ in the eyes of the world, but it was also one which secured United their second league and cup double in the space of three seasons.
Liverpool had, boldly, opted for white suits for their second FA Cup final appearance in four years, taking advantage of goalkeeper David James’ working relationship with Giorgio Armani.
United, who had sensibly opted for a more classic, were the ones who got the cream, however, Cantona’s late volley – after a poor punch from James – securing victory in an awful game, and ensuring the Liverpool suits would pass into folklore for all the wrong reasons.
GettySolskjaer’s stunner: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool, January 1999
Manchester United completed an unprecedented – and as yet unrepeated – treble in 1998-99, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the space of 10 days.
But Liverpool came as close as anyone to ending that dream. Gerard Houllier’s side were just two minutes away from victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round, only for United to summon the kind of late drama for which Ferguson’s side became renowned.
First Dwight Yorke equalised in the 88th minute and then, in stoppage time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swivelled in the box to fire inside the near post and seal a remarkable comeback.
It would not be the Norwegian’s last great contribution that season…