Steven Gerrard celebrates beating United at Anfield last season
Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League and the stakes are as high as ever in one of English football’s most famous rivalries.
Both sets of players will aim to ink their names into the fixture’s illustrious history, while there is a swansong for one of the fixture’s finest performers.
Head-to-head record
Manchester United hold the advantage over Liverpool in the BPL era, with 24 wins to 13 and eight draws. A 3-0 win at Old Trafford earlier this campaign gained a measure of redress for United after home and away defeats last season.
In 2012/13, Sir Alex Ferguson oversaw a pair of victories in his final two matches against the Merseyside club.
BPL head-to-heads
| Venue |
Played |
Liverpool wins |
Draws |
Man Utd wins |
| At Liverpool |
22 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| At United |
23 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| Total |
45 |
13 |
8 |
24 |
Famous meeting: Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd 2, May 1999
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United travelled to Anfield a point behind defending champions Arsenal in an enthralling Barclays Premier League title race.
But, their hopes of a famous treble looked to be fading after Liverpool produced a stunning comeback. United were two goals up thanks to Dwight Yorke’s far-post header from a pinpoint David Beckham cross and a Denis Irwin penalty, conceded after Jamie Carragher had fouled Jesper Blomqvist. But the Swede soon turned villain as a Liverpool side fighting for a top-six finish were handed a lifeline when he brought down Oyvind Leonhardsen, allowing Jamie Redknapp to pull one back from the spot.
Irwin then received a second booking for kicking the ball away and Paul Ince took advantage when he swept home in the 89th minute against his former side and manager to send The Kop into raptures.
The draw gave Arsenal a three-point lead at the summit but it was an advantage they squandered as United recovered to claim the title before winning the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League to complete the Treble.
Player focus – Steven Gerrard
If selected, the Liverpool captain Gerrard will play against United in the Barclays Premier League for the 30th and final time. During that time he has scored eight goals, including a brace from the penalty spot when Brendan Rodgers’ team won 3-0 at Old Trafford last season. Gerrard’s overall league record in the fixture stands at 10 wins, two draws and 16 defeats.
Played for both clubs
No player has been transferred between Manchester United and Liverpool since Phil Chisnall swapped Old Trafford for Anfield in 1964, an indication of the club’s fierce rivalry.
Examples of players to represent both English footballing heavyweights are particularly scarce during the Barclays Premier League era. Paul Ince established himself as one of the finest midfielders of his generation during six years with United but joined Liverpool in 1997 after two seasons with Inter Milan.
Michael Owen burst on to the scene at Liverpool and scored 118 times in 216 Barclays Premier League matches for the club. Like Ince, he moved abroad, to Real Madrid, and arrived at Old Trafford via Newcastle United in 2009.
What’s at stake
United turned in their best performance to date under Louis van Gaal last weekend, blowing away Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 with a scintillating first-half display.
The result leaves them fourth in the table as the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification hots up. Liverpool are two points behind in fifth after Monday night’s 1-0 win at Swansea City extended their unbeaten league run after December’s defeat at Old Trafford to 13 matches..
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 