Manchester United vs Liverpool: A deep-rooted historic rivalry gears up for its latest chapter

Who will triumph in this titanic encounter on Sunday?
Who will triumph in this titanic encounter on Sunday?

A couple of centuries ago, Liverpool, courtesy its positional advantage, had cast itself as one of the major trading centres across the United Kingdom. Consequently, the city’s economy and other ancillary aspects reached its zenith. However, in 1894, a group of Manchester merchants came along, decided to rip open the established order and carve out a supremacy of its own.

In the process, the Manchester Ship Canal was built, allowing the traders from Manchester to transport raw materials, without involving the folks in Merseyside. From that juncture, the Mancunian landscape changed while Liverpool was left licking its wounds, a narrative the latter hasn’t managed to change, thereby watching helplessly as the former has catapulted itself as the premier textile hub.

Thus, even before footballing entities from either region had clashed swords, both cities harboured slight ill-feelings towards each other. And, inevitably, that battle for dominance on the cultural and economic front spilled onto the pitch when Manchester United and Liverpool’s paths ultimately crossed.

Ironically, their footballing rivalry also traversed a similar route to what transpired between the cities. Liverpool, the seemingly invincible superpower, found itself perched comfortably atop the English top-flight. Yet, in the late 1980s and 1990s, a certain Scotsman of the ilk of those famous Manchester merchants, arrived at Old Trafford to rattle Merseyside cages.

Sir Alex Ferguson, fuelled by his desire to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’, propelled United to peaks many had deemed insurmountable, especially after the turmoil the club had gone through before his appointment. However, he succeeded quite emphatically and unsurprisingly, it came at the Reds’ expense.

Since the installation of Ferguson at the helm, the Merseyside outfit have won a grand total of two top-flight titles while that number dwindles to zero when talking about the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson stuck to his words and knocked Liverpool off their perch
Sir Alex Ferguson stuck to his words and knocked Liverpool off their perch

Subsequently, United managed to leapfrog the Reds as the most successful side in English football history, an achievement that hasn’t gone down too well in Merseyside.

However, Liverpool have always been able to reminisce their 6 European triumphs as opposed to the Red Devils’ 3, thereby enabling them an opportunity to boast about their superiority.

Hence, quite a bit of needle has been generated between the two teams, especially considering the rich history both clubs enjoy and the determination to be termed the numero uno club in the United Kingdom.

Additionally, countless on-field incidents have stoked that fire significantly, meaning that there is never a dull moment when these two lock horns.

The detailed accounts of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney quipping about how they hated the other club, let alone dislike, ignites further fireworks. Luis Suarez too, didn’t help the conflict fizzle out when he infamously snubbed Patrice Evra’s handshake in February 2012, an action that was not just distasteful but also bordering on absurdity.

Hence, with such a plethora of sub-plots weaving itself intricately in games between the duo, there have been numerous engaging and engrossing encounters, although that particular pattern has failed to come to the fore recently.

Last season, the Reds won four points out of a possible tally of six. The victory came at Anfield whereas they indulged in a drab stalemate at the Theatre of Dreams.

However, the Red Devils have enjoyed the wood over their north-western neighbours over the years, albeit marginally. United have won 88 of the 230 matches while they’ve tasted defeat on 76 occasions, with 66 draws sandwiched.

Thus, historically, only tiny margins have separated the pair, indicating that despite the strife either might be going through, they have hardly ever failed to turn up on the most vibrant of red-letter days.

Sparks have flown whenever the pair has met
Sparks have flown whenever the pair has met

And, even though United appear absolutely dire and shambolic currently, they’ll most certainly get themselves fired up for the Reds’ visit on Sunday, considering the Red Devils have the opportunity of throwing a considerable spanner in the visitors’ title-aspiring works.

Years ago, Manchester usurped Liverpool with the latter finding it tough to resurrect sojourns that had earlier seemed routine. However, unlike their trading rivalry, the Merseysiders have managed to regain their mojo at the Premier League pinnacle, something that has inevitably, irked the United fan base even more.

And, if history were to repeat itself, Manchester would find it way to get the better of Liverpool, by hook or by crook. Yet, at this juncture, that seems as ludicrous a fable as one can envisage, not to mention the practical problems existing with such an outcome.

As football fanatics though, the stage is set for a titanic encounter between a side looking to make up for lost time and another hoping to recapture its glory days. Funnily enough, the perennial roles of both teams seem to have been altered just a tad.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari