'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
“There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, football – eh?”
So, before all the geeks slay me for misquoting Muhammad Ali Jinnah, I call for rationale. Swapping football for women in the above quote makes sense after all – with all due respect, Mr. Jinnah wasn’t exposed to the nuances of the amazing world of football! And rivalries are the sparks that make our revered game the ‘Goblet of Fire’ it pans out to be. So, without much further ado, we present to you a new series which will introduce you to the dark annals of the greatest ever rivalries that have made football what it is today. And as the greatest-ever Liverpool Manager Bill Shankly famously said –
Trending
“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”
So on this note, we kick-off our new series with arguably, the greatest football rivalry on earth, The Red Rivalry. A rivalry between two of the brightest stars in the English football galaxy, separated by a mere 30 miles. A rivalry of the ideologies, economies, cultures and pretty much everything that separates the two cities. A rivalry so intense that players and managers, alike, get goosebumps by the mere mention of it. A rivalry, where careers are made and destroyed. It is more than a rivalry, it’s a vendetta, a blood feud that’s Sicilian in intensity, contemptuous at best, raw, visceral hatred at worst. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Liverpool vs Manchester United, where history is written by the day, only to be eclipsed by the night.
How it all began…
The Manchester Ship Canal – Root of the rivalry
Football may be the catalyst that drives this rivalry forward, but to many-a surprise, it was the advent of industrial revolution that kick-started the hatred that is entrenched in every heart, be it a Scouser or a Mancunian.
As Mr. Darwin had prophesied centuries ago, the struggle for supremacy is and will always remain an integral part of human evolution. Well, it was no different in the North-West region of England as Manchester United had its prowess in Cotton manufacturing while Liverpool held trumps in transportation, courtesy creation of its first wet dock, making it one of the world’s leading ports.
And the Scousers pressed home this geographical advantage with heavy duties on all Manchester products that crossed their docks. As time went by, owing to the frustration emanating from the working class of Manchester, Manchester Ship Canal was built which bypassed Liverpool completely. And then the Basilisk surfaced. With the men in Liverpool losing their jobs, hatred was born, hatred so intense that it burns their night oil, even today. Both the Manchester clubs have a ship on their crest, commemorating the building of the canal.
Though both cities suffered from economic downturns in 1970s and 80s, they both resurfaced from the ashes with a renewed vigour. The rivalry attained new dimensions with Manchester hosting 2002 Commonwealth Games and Liverpool being awarded the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Football – The Perfect Catalyst…
Manchester United overtook Liverpool as England's most successful club last season, knocking them off the perch
“Want to test the real extent of human friendship, pit them against each-other in a football arena”
This quote may be a manifestation of the ever-so deluded mind of Yours Truly, but it puts football on a plate for the hungry outsider. Football is a mirror of every man’s dark interior as it can break the shackles of the fake exterior that can serve him so well in usual conditions.
So, what better than football to be the driving force of an already thriving rivalry and with the title of ‘The Greatest English Football Club’ at stake, the blood could only run deeper. The rivalry is based on the crests and troughs of both the clubs over the past, with a sinusoidal wave in the making for a maths enthusiast. With both clubs having won more than 50 major trophies each, the crown still rests peacefully in its den, and it’s anybody’s guess that both clubs don’t like it.
Liverpool have been dubbed as the ‘Most Decorated English Club’ since time immemorial and Manchester United have persevered their way through all the hoopla about their Merseyside rivals with sheer consistency and passion in the Premier League era to come up on top in the recent times.
Liverpool dominated English football during the 1970s and 1980s, claiming the league title eleven times and the European Cup on four occasions during that period, including winning a treble in 1984. Manchester United, however, have dominated the 1990s and 2000s, winning the league title a record twelve times, a European Continental treble (European Cup, the Premiership and the FA Cup) in 1999, two domestic doubles and The European Double of the Premier League and European Cup in 2008. Liverpool have been more rampant on the European stage, with the Reds landing ‘The Holy Grail’ a record 5 times and Manchester United following, with 3 titles to their name.
The teams have met in four major cup finals; the FA Cup in 1977 and 1996, and the League Cup in 1983 and 2003. Both the clubs have shared the spoils, with United winning both FA Cup final meetings in pulsating encounters, and Liverpool coming up trumps in the League Cup meetings.
With Manchester United winning a record-breaking 19th title this season, their legendary Manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous comment comes to the mind.
“My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f**king perch. And you can print that.”
Liverpool continue to rule the roost when it comes to success in Europe
But with Liverpool still ahead in terms of European glory, the fight for the much-glorified position atop the perch has never been more intense.
When Liverpool won the Champions League a record 5th time in Istanbul in 2005 with a performance that would have left Houdini bamboozled by the sheer audacity of it, they grabbed the bragging rights against their North-Western rivals. As UEFA allows a team to keep the original Champions League trophy once they have won it 5 times, so the shiny silverware now rests proudly, in the hallowed trophy cabinet at Anfield.
“The European Cup is returning to England, and to Anfield, Liverpool are Champions of Europe Again!!! Liverpool are 5 times winners and the giant trophy will never leave the club. They have won it to keep!!” – Clive Tyldsley, ITV Commentator for UCL Final, 2005.
And there is one particular side that they want to remind about their European prowess, Manchester United with the fans famously singing in Istanbul -
“Are you watching…
Are you watching…
Are you watching, Manchester? “
The worldwide support and the fan base for both clubs is staggering to say the least; adding to the rich flavour of the fierce rivalry that sets the adrenaline flowing.
The players aren’t Saints, either…
Neville's 'over-the-line' celebration at OT
With the backbone of the United attack, Wayne Rooney, publicly expressing his hatred for the red half of the Merseyside (Rooney is an Everton Youth Academy product), there is no love lost between the two sets of players. Liverpool’s talismanic skipper, Steven Gerrard, in one of the documentaries, pointed out that that there were no Manchester United shirts in his collection and that he would never have one of them in his house. The intensity of the rivalry can be gauged from this line in Gerrard’s autobiography – “during 90 minutes of football, I want United to die.”
But the most outrageous act by any player from either sides was the cheesy celebration by United legend Gary Neville, where he kissed his badge and shouted profanities towards the Liverpool fan stand after Rio Ferdinand headed in a late winner in a 1-0 win over their arch rivals, in 2006. Neville received criticism from all corners with Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticising his actions, commenting -
“I think there is a line and Neville crossed it. I’ve heard people say it’s justified because he gets a lot of stick from our fans but the truth is he gets stick as he’s been doing that for years.”
The Player Transfers…
Crossing the Great Divide!!
The rivalry has intensified to such massive proportions that there has been no direct transfer between the clubs since Phil Chisnall crossed the great divide (it’s tougher than crossing English Channel, believe me), way back in 1964, making his way from United to Liverpool.
In 2007, when Liverpool approached United with a bid for Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze with the latter publicly expressing his desire to make the move, the United fans were incensed at the public display of disrespect to the club and Heinze was eventually sold to United’s partner-in-crime, Real Madrid.
Top 5 Clashes of the Titans…
1. 17th December 2000 : Old Nemesis strikes again : Liverpool 1 – 0 United
Danny Murphy: United's nemesis
Remember Danny Murphy? Well, the current Fulham skipper may not have written his ways into the Anfield folklore but he was a fan favourite, quite simply because he was a perennial thorn in the arch-rivals United’s path.
With Liverpool having failed to register a win against United in 10 consecutive games, it was left to the amazing set-piece ability of Murphy that sunk the United ship. A peach of a free kick just before half-time won the game for Liverpool, despite United’s dominance throughout the game.
The goal not only helped the Reds get rid of the cobwebs that had settled around Anfield ; it also kick-started a career in inflicting losses on United, with Murphy as the protagonist.
The match had become famous for Liverpool’s erstwhile Manager Houllier’s comment:
“We Will Beat Them One Day!”
2. 22nd January 2006 : Neville meets some old foes : United 1 – 0 Liverpool
Neville's adrenaline-charged reaction
As Jamie Carragher eventually commented – “I think there is a line and Neville crossed it. “ And cross the line he did.
After Liverpool dominated much of the proceedings, Djibril Cisse was presented with a golden opportunity to impart a killer blow to United, but to many-a horror, he missed. But that was not all as fate had more misery in store for the Anfield faithful.
A Ryan Giggs’ cross was expertly headed in by Rio Ferdinand in the last minute of the play and an adrenaline-fuelled Gary Neville ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with the travelling Anfield support. The indecent gestures along with the screaming torrent of raw emotion directed towards the Liverpool fans endeared him to United fans, with many calling him a true red-devil after the incident. The United fans even conjured a song for their ‘Hero’
| Gary Neville Is A Red (He Hates Scousers!) | |||
| (to the tune of ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’) | |||
|
Neville was fined 5000 pounds for his indecent behaviour which had led to provocation and riots between the two sets of fans after the match.
3. 11th May 1996 : FA Cup Final – Spice Boys vs Fergie Fledgelings : Liverpool 0 – 1 United
Cantona – The Legend!!
Well it was the epic battle. A major trophy final between the bitter rivals with the likes of Fowler, Redknapp, McManaman on one side and Cantona, Beckham, Giggs on the other – what a treat! And what better place than Wembley to hold it!
But in actuality, it proved to be a dreary contest as the midfields played well plugging every inch of space on the field. However as fate may have it, it was United’s bad boy Cantona who scored off a rebound with a stinging volley, that wrestled its way past the band of players that separated Cantona and the net.
Cantona and United had again conjured a magical moment out of nothing. The game was also remembered as the Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer Ian Rush’s farewell match. He amassed 346 goals in his glorious career.
4. 14th March 2009 : The Old Trafford Premier : United 1 – 4 Liverpool
Gerrard kisses the camera after scoring from the spot in the OT massacre.
This was the day when a potential candidate for the player of the season was taken for a hiding and the eventual league winners were butchered like animals. To add spice to the lentil curry, the events unfolded in their ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
The clouds did not look promising for Liverpool as they lost both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa to injuries and had to fall back on the assured shoulders of the giant Finn Sami Hyppia. It was not a perfect start to the match either, as United romped to the lead with a calmly converted Ronaldo spot-kick.
But that was it for United. Their rock in defence, Nemanja Vidic misjudged a long ball and Torres pounced like a tiger to leave Vidic writhing on the ground and expertly finished his chance. Liverpool attacked with renewed vigour and painted Old Trafford, Liverpool Red with Captain Fantastic Gerrard, Aurelio and Dossena on target.
To add to United’s misery, Nemanja Vidic was sent-off for his lunge on Gerrard, 15 minutes from time, to put an end to the horrific performance of the Serbian. Liverpool could have easily won by a bigger margin had they finished their chances expertly.
In the post-match interview, Alex Ferguson made the wackiest of comments that left many-a smirk –
“We were the better team. The score doesn’t reflect that.”
Well, at least he got the latter part right.
5. 4th April 1988 : Baby Dalglish was born : Liverpool 3 – 3 United
It was a riveting, pulsating, nerve-wrecking, mind boggling, simply amazing cliffhanger. With old foes and current managers King Kenny and Alex Ferguson at the helm, respectively, things were bound to spice up. And spice up they did.
Liverpool, at that time, were the reference standard for anything football and Manchester United were title contenders, to show due respect. Bryan Robson gave United the lead, but United were cut to their size with three goals either side of the break, courtesy of Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon. Commentator John Motson was at his best with his cheesy comment –
“This is a magnificient performance, even by Liverpool standards.”
But there was more drama to unfold as Robson scored again, to give hopes to the travelling support. With United’s Colin Gibson receiving marching orders, all hopes seemed lost for the away side when Gordon Strachan, out of nothing, conjured an equaliser and his ‘smoking an imaginary cigar’ celebration at the Kop end has written his ways into the folklore.
But with the witty Scots at helm, it was a day which has been primarily remembered for the legendary exchange-of-words between the two managerial giants. Ferguson claimed –
“Managers have to leave here choking on their own vomit, biting their tongue, afraid to tell the truth”
after United had ended up on the wrong side of a series of controversial incidents. But King Kenny was not one to be gunned down with him famously commenting –
“People would get more sense out of my six-week old daughter, Lauren.”
who he was holding in his arms at the time.
Club Disasters and Fans’ Reactions…
Both clubs have had to bear Football history’s worst disasters with the Munich plane crash disaster rocking United in 1958 and the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies that cost many lives, casting its gloom over Merseyside in 1985 and 1989, respectively.
But a certain set of fans on both sides, having a morbid sense of humour, have used their creativity in the most heinous of ways, with them coming up with songs mocking the dead. Though such acts have been denounced from all quarters alike, but their vulcanizing effect on the mutual hatred has been tremendous.
Liverpool fan songs for Munich tragedy:
Who’s that lying on the Runway,
Who’s that dying in the snow,
its Matt Busby and his Boys
making all the f*cking noise,
can’t they can’t get the f*cking plane to go.
United fan songs for Heysel and Hillsborough disasters:
|
(referring to the Heysel tragedy where 39 fans died)
The ‘Mur-der-ers’ and ‘96 was not enough’ chants aimed towards both the disasters rose their venomous head in the recent FA Youth Cup tie between the two sides at Anfield.
Liverpool fan songs reflecting their hatred towards Mancs:
If I had the wings of a sparrow,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I’d fly over man U tomorrow,
And sh*t on the b*stards below.
United fan songs mocking the economic downturn Scousers faced:
|
Liverpool Fans Disgruntlement:
The Scousers feel that there is a national media bias towards United, despite Liverpool being the ‘Most Decorated English Club’ since eternity. The knighthood received by ‘Sir’ Matt Busby and ‘Sir’ Alex Ferguson bears testament to their grudge as the legendary triumvirate of Shankly, Paisley and Dalglish still await recognition for their outstanding contribution to the game.
Fan Hooliganism:
At the 1996 FA Cup Final, an unidentified Liverpool fan spat at Eric Cantona and threw a punch at Alex Ferguson as a victorious Manchester United team walked up the steps at Wembley Stadium to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.
After an FA Cup match in 2006 between the clubs, an ambulance carrying Alan Smith, who had broken his leg during the match, was attacked on its way to the hospital by Liverpool fans.
At Anfield, fans are banned from going near the away team entrance on match days following an incident in the late 1990s where a Liverpool fan threw an egg at Alex Ferguson.
In January 2011, Liverpool fans brought blow up planes, mocking the Munich air disaster, to Old Trafford for the FA cup tie between the two sides. Munich chants were sung and the Liverpool fans damaged seats, throwing them and other missiles onto the pitch as well as causing damage to Old Trafford’s East Stand toilets, which caused flooding to offices below.
Current Scenario and Future Mullings…
With the legendary Scots at helm, the rivalry is about to spice up a notch!!
With King Kenny back in Anfield’s hot seat and the perennial United Manager Alex Ferguson going strong, the rivalry can only get bigger as was visible in the verbal onslaughts between the two, that ensued the FA Cup tie and the League game at Anfield.
As Dalglish said after the FA Cup loss to United –
“I don’t know whether he is happy I’m back or not, I am just happy I’m back. If he is unhappy about it, that’s not my problem.”
But it is a relationship based on mutual respect as Dalglish recalled in his autobiography ‘My Liverpool Home’, how in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster he received a phone call from Ferguson offering his support.
King Kenny celebrated his 60th birthday in style as a precursor to the United tie commenting –
“He has used psychology before in the preamble to matches, but he will only get sparring practice if he tries to use it on us. We’ve both been a long time out of short trousers. It will have to be a good one to catch us out.”
After the consequent hammering United received at Anfield and the unbelievable progress the squad has made under King Kenny, in the second half of the season, the future may look bright for Liverpool and the rivalry may reach epic proportions as Manchester United recently broke Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles.
For the general good of football, let the rivalry blossom to massive proportions, but the repercussions of the war remain on-the-field. Here’s to another millennium of the Red Rivalry. Cheers!
Hope you liked the first edition of our new series. Please post your comments below and like if you enjoyed reading the article.
