There is no fiercer rivalry in English football than between Liverpool and Manchester United, and sparks always fly when they get together.
Even with United having been in the doldrums of late, Sunday’s Anfield showdown still represents one of the Premier League season’s most eagerly anticipated clashes.
To get everyone in the mood, we’ve ranked 10 memorable Liverpool vs Man United matches over the years!
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Ranked: The Top 10 Most Memorable Liverpool v Man United Matches
10: Liverpool 1 Man United 2 (May 1977)
10: Liverpool 1 Man United 2 (May 1977)
Liverpool went into the FA Cup final already crowned First Division champions and with a place in the European Cup decider booked for four days later but United denied them the chance of doing the Treble.
All the goals came in a five-minute burst early in the second half. Stuart Pearson’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Jimmy Case but Lou Macari’s shot rebounded in off Jimmy Greenhoff to settle it at Wembley.
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9: Man United 3 Liverpool 2 (September 2010)
9: Man United 3 Liverpool 2 (September 2010)
Dimitar Berbatov put United in control with goals either side of the interval, the second a superb effort which saw him control Nani’s cross with his knee before firing in an overhead kick off the crossbar, but Gerrard inspired a Liverpool fightback with a double strike.
Not since Stan Pearson in 1946 had a United player scored three times against their biggest rivals, but Berbatov headed the winner six minutes from time to complete his famous hat-trick.
8: Man United 1 Liverpool 4 (March 2009)
8: Man United 1 Liverpool 4 (March 2009)
United appeared on course to go 10 points clear at the top of the table when Cristiano Ronaldo hit the target with a 23rd-minute penalty but Fernando Torres soon levelled and Steven Gerrard put Liverpool in front from the spot just before the break, celebrating in style by kissing a TV camera.
Nemanja Vidic was given a torrid time by Torres and saw red in the second period, paving the way for the visitors to power clear through Fabiano Aurelio and Andrea Dossena.
7: Man United 2 Liverpool 2 (October 1995)
7: Man United 2 Liverpool 2 (October 1995)
Eric Cantona’s return to action after an eight-month ban for assaulting a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park seemed set to turn sour after Liverpool responded to Nicky Butt’s early score (from a Cantona cross) with a brilliant brace by 20-year-old Robbie Fowler.
However, when Ryan Giggs went down in the box in the 70th minute and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, Cantona stepped up and kept his nerve, calmly sending the keeper the wrong way.
6: Man United 0 Liverpool 5 (October 2021)
6: Man United 0 Liverpool 5 (October 2021)
Early strikes from Naby Keita and Diogo Jota put Liverpool in control and Salah went on to hit a hat-trick as the Reds ran riot at Old Trafford, where Paul Pogba was sent off around the hour mark.
Salah’s treble was the first scored by a Liverpool player on the ground since Fred Howe in a 5-2 victory in November 1936, the club’s previous record win.
Klopp said of the triumph: “I got told that it never happened before in the history of LFC. This group always wanted to write their own chapter, so this was a little chapter tonight. People will talk about it in the future, 100 per cent, because it does not happen very often.”
Most Memorable Liverpool vs Man United Match Since 2010?
5: Man United 2 Liverpool 1 (January 1999)
5: Man United 2 Liverpool 1 (January 1999)
Liverpool took an early lead in this FA Cup clash through Michael Owen but United, establishing a trend which would manifest itself with even greater significance in Europe later that season, turned it around with two late goals.
After the Red Devils had twice hit the woodwork, Dwight Yorke equalised in the 88th minute and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer snatched a thrilling winner moments later.
4: Liverpool 3 Man United 3 (April 1988)
4: Liverpool 3 Man United 3 (April 1988)
Despite being the dominant force in English football during the 80s, Liverpool had gone six years without beating United in the league but looked set to buck that trend when leading 3-1 through Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and a Steve McMahon stunner.
United went down to 10 men following the dismissal of Colin Gibson but substitute Norman Whiteside set about turning things around with crunching challenges on John Barnes and McMahon.
The plan to get Liverpool riled worked, as Bryan Robson pulled one back with his second goal of the game and then Gordon Strachan levelled it up, before celebrating by lighting an imaginary cigar in front of The Kop.
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3: Liverpool 7 Man United 0 (March 2023)
3: Liverpool 7 Man United 0 (March 2023)
Doubles from Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah plus a late strike from substitute Roberto Firmino saw Liverpool send United crashing to their heaviest ever Premier League defeat.
Jurgen Klopp hailed it as “a freak result, a really top performance,” while Red Devils defender Luke Shaw apologised for a “completely unacceptable”, “embarrassing” and “disgraceful” display.
2: Liverpool 3 Man United 3 (January 1994)
2: Liverpool 3 Man United 3 (January 1994)
United had taken over as top dogs and stunned the Anfield faithful with an early onslaught that saw them lead 3-0 inside 25 minutes thanks to goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin, with a brilliant free-kick.
Under-pressure Liverpool boss Graeme Souness was taunted with jibes of “getting sacked in the morning” but a Nigel Clough double put the hosts back in contention by half-time and Neil Ruddock’s towering header 11 minutes from time completed an emotional comeback.
1: Man United 4 Liverpool 3 (March 2024)
1: Man United 4 Liverpool 3 (March 2024)
A struggling United side trailed 2-1 in this FA Cup quarter-final tie after Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah replied to Scott McTominay’s opener but Antony managed to level against the run of play in the 87th minute.
Liverpool sub Harvey Elliott landed a 105th-minute body blow but, in front of United fan Tyson Fury, the hosts picked themselves off the canvas as Marcus Rashford equalised and then Amad Diallo scored on the break in added time at the end of extra time, shaking Old Trafford to its foundations.
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