The Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry, one of the most heated and passionate derbies in English football, is just a few days away from us. The hatred between the two teams is more than a battle on the pitch and is one that is fuelled by social and cultural factors, too.
This year’s battle will see two very new sides with two new managers in-charge of the teams. Both teams may lack local players from Liverpool and Manchester, but on the field, the passion and determination to get one over the other will certainly be on display, just like the fierce battles of yesteryear.
The Liverpool-United derbies of the past have been incredible games of passion, aggression, and memorable individual performances and goals.
Let’s turn back time and bring you the 5 best goals from the Liverpool and Manchester United games of the recent past:
#10 Rafael, Anfield, 23 September 2012
After the retirement of Gary Neville, Rafael da Silva became United’s first-choice right-back in 2012. The Brazilian was given the #2 jersey and started in most games for the club.
The 2012 season was a bittersweet season for United fans; United won their 20th league title, but their legendary manager of 26 years, Sir Alex Ferguson bid goodbye and retired from football management.
United set the early pace in the league and one of their important victories was the away win at Anfield in September. After going behing to a Gerrard goal, the Red Devils fought back with a fantastic piece of individual brilliance by right-back Rafael.
The right-back darted forward with the ball, laid it off to Valencia whose cross was chested down by Shinji Kagawa to the Brazilian. Rafael took a touch, shifted the ball to his left and curled one past Liverpool goalkeeper Reina.
#9 Patrik Berger, Old Trafford, 04 March 2000
Patrick Berger spent 7 seasons on Merseyside and moved to the club in 1996 from Borussia Dortmund. The central midfielder, a lifelong Liverpool fan, scored 35 goals for the club and played a part in Liverpool’s Cup treble of 2000-01.
One of Berger’s most memorable goals of the 35 he scored was the bullet-like shot that he hit against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Liverpool were playing the to-be-champions and Berger opened the scoring in the 28th minute.
The midfielder hit the ball with venom from a set-piece which went around the United wall and United’s then Dutch goalkeeper, Raimond van der Gouw, tried to push it away, but in vain. The game ended 1-1 with Ole Gunnar Solkjaer scoring a goal just before half-time.
Liverpool didn’t win any trophy that season, but Berger had a good season, scoring 9 goals in all competitions.
#8 Juan Mata, Anfield, 22 March 2015
How can a new Manchester United signing make himself a fan favourite? Score a brace against the Scousers at Anfield, of course! Juan Mata did just that for Manchester United in the 2015 game.
Mata joined United from Chelsea in January 2014 and went on to have a good season, scoring 10 goals. One of Mata’s best games in a United shirt – which he rates as his best, as well – is the game against Liverpool in Anfield.
The Spaniard opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a shot from his weaker right foot. But, the match will be remembered for his second goal, a wonderful scissor kick from an Angel di Maria cross.
#7 Ian Rush, Anfield, 06 March 1993
One of Liverpool’s greatest players and one of the most feared strikers of the 80s and early 90s, Ian Rush had a rather poor goalscoring against fierce rivals, Manchester United. The Welshman scored just 3 goals against United out of the 200-odd goals scored by him for Liverpool.
Rush’s last goal against Manchester United in Liverpool colours was this beauty in the 1993 season. The striker started off the bench but was brought on in the 44th minute of the game, and got on the scoresheet in the 50th minute.
The Welsh striker got onto a ball from defence, outmuscled the United defence and hit it on the half-volley across the outstretched arms of Peter Schmeichel. His goal brought the team level, but Brian McClair’s 56th minute goal sealed it for United.
#6 Robbie Fowler, Old Trafford, 01 October 1995
Robbie Fowler is a player who is much revered by Liverpool fans, who also gave him the nickname ‘God’ for his incredible goalscoring ability. A product of the Merseyside club’s youth academy, Fowler made his first-team debut as a teenager in 1993.
The Englishman was a player with quick feet and a strong left foot, which is on evidence in the goal he scored in 1995 at Old Trafford. Fowler was found on the left side and he took a few strides before unleashing a wicked shot from the edge of the box and into the top corner to silence the Old Trafford crowd.
Fowler scored a brace in that game against United at Old Trafford and followed it up with another brace in the return fixture at Anfield.
#5 Dimitar Berbatov, Old Trafford, 19 September 2010
A goal in the Liverpool-Manchester United derby goes a long way in finding a special place in the hearts of either set of fans, but a hat-trick is a sure way for a player to win the fans’ affection, and Dimitar Berbatov did just that with his hat-trick in 2010.
The Bulgarian opened the scoring in the tie with a cool finish from a corner to give United the lead just before the break. The second goal was the piece de resistance of the game, a stunning overhead kick which beat Liverpool’s Pepe Reina convincingly.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored two to bring the scores level, but Berbatov, the star of the day, was not done yet. He netted a winner in the 84thminute, much to the delight of the capacity crowd at Old Trafford.
#4 Anthony Martial, Old Trafford, 12 September 2015
When Anthony Martial signed for Manchester United in the summer of 2015, he was a virtual unknown for Manchester United and followers of the Premier League, and many in French football felt that the massive £36 million fee was way too much for the striker.
Several newspapers in England called him a waste of money, but he silenced all his critics in his very first game for United, that too against arch rivals Liverpool.
Martial was brought on in the 65th minute with United leading the game by a solitary goal. Ander Herrera scored to stretch United’s lead, but Benteke’s 84th minute goal meant that the closing stages of the game would be a nervy affair for the Old Trafford faithful.
The young Frenchman changed all that with his wondrous goal in the 86th minute, picking up the ball from deep, running at Liverpool defenders and slotting it into the back of the net.
That’s a debut which will not be out of place even in Hollywood films.
#3 Steven Gerrard, Anfield, 31 March 2001
Any Liverpool ‘best goals’ list is not complete without this man – Steven Gerrard! The Liverpool legend has openly admitted his disdain and hatred towards Manchester United, so much so that he has never swapped shirts with a Manchester United player.
Gerrard, who had just made the midfield position his own, made nearly 50 starts in the season, scoring 10 goals in the 2001 season.
The game held no value for United except bragging rights, as they had almost sealed the title. Liverpool, on the other hand, were battling for European spots and a victory would’ve helped them closer to their goal.
His incredible shot from distance against United in 2001 would’ve filled his heart with immense pride. The young Gerrard picked a flick on from Robbie Fowler, took a few steps and blasted one into the top corner, much to the despair of Barthez and United fans, but to the delight of the roaring Anfield crowd.
A new hero was born on Merseyside!
#2 John Arne Riise, Anfield, 04 November 2001
John Arne Riise will for long be adored by Liverpool fans for his dashing runs from left-back, as well as his rasping shots from set-pieces and from deep. The Norwegian was signed by Liverpool in 2001 and went on to score 8 goals in his debut campaign at Anfield.
One of his first goals for Liverpool was this thunderbolt of a shot against United at Anfield. The free-kick from just outside the box was laid off by Hamann and the left-back’s thunderous shot could not be kept out by Manchester United goalkeeper Fabian Barthez, who got a hand on it, but couldn’t keep the ball from nestling the back of the net.
Riise’s goal gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead going into half-time, and the Scousers saw it through after a goal from Michael Owen, with the game ending 3-1 in favour of the Reds.
#1 Bryan Robson, Maine Road, 17 April 1985
Bryan Robson is fondly remembered by older Manchester United fans as one of the greatest players to have played for the team and an inspirational leader. ‘Captain Fantastic’ as he was called, was a true box-to-box midfielder. Tenacious in the tackle with the skill to beat defenders, pass the ball from deep and score goals, he had it all.
One of Robson’s most important goals came in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Liverpool in 1985. The semi-final ended in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, which meant that the two teams had to battle it out again in 4 days time.
United fell to a 39th minute Paul McGrath own goal, before Robson produced a bit of magic to level the score in the 46th minute. The then England captain picked the ball from the half-way line, played a quick one-two, rode a challenge from the Liverpool defence, accelerated away from them and hit a shot from outside the box into the top corner.
The goal led to a United comeback, with Mark Hughes scoring another goal to set up a game against Everton in the finals, which United won.
