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#4 Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United – 4th November 2001
Although they didn’t win the league – Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side picked up their second Premier League trophy in 2001/02 – Liverpool did finish second in the table; one place above Manchester United, managing to top their rivals for the first time in the Premier League era. Again, they managed two league victories over the Red Devils, and like in the previous season, it was their victory at Anfield that was more impressive.
This game belonged to England striker Michael Owen – probably at the peak of his powers after a great 2000/01 season that saw him score the winning goal in the FA Cup final, and right before a tremendous World Cup showing – as he scored two goals to ensure the Reds downed their rivals. United’s central defensive partnership of Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown simply couldn’t handle him, and his goals were classic Owen. His first came from a sudden burst of pace to latch onto a deflected ball, and seconds later he’d beaten keeper Fabien Barthez with ease.
Liverpool’s next goal was even better – a brutal free-kick from defender John Arne Riise – and despite David Beckham pulling one back with a rare left-footed strike, Owen then settled the game with a classic poacher’s goal – heading into an empty net following a missed catch from Barthez. United actually enjoyed more possession in the game but simply couldn’t carve out enough chances, and so the game was won by Owen – the ultimate predator at the head of Liverpool’s attack – paving the way for Liverpool to finish above United in the final table.
