The best of Manchester United v Liverpool: Cantona's comeback, Salah's hat-trick and 'those' white suits

It says a lot about how far Liverpool fell in the early 1990s that a home draw, in which they had trailed 3-0 after 23 minutes, represents one of the high points.

But this was the last Liverpool-United game played in front of the old standing Kop, and boy were they given a treat. 

United, en route to their second successive league title, raced into a seemingly-unassailable lead through Steve Bruce’s header, Denis Irwin’s free kick and Ryan Giggs’ perfect chip, but Liverpool hit back before half-time through two goals from the otherwise underwhelming Nigel Clough.

The second half ebbed and flowed until, with 11 minutes left, Stig Inge Bjornebye clipped in a cross and Neil Ruddock attacked it with venom, heading past Peter Schmeichel for 3-3.

United went on to win the league as expected, while Liverpool would part company with manager Graeme Souness a few weeks after this game. They ended the season eighth, their lowest finish for 31 years.

It was all about one man when Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford, early in the 1995-96 season.

Eric Cantona had served an eight-month ban after attacking a Crystal Palace fan during a game at Selhurst Park, but had been convinced to remain at United by manager Alex Ferguson, who thrust him straight into the starting XI for Liverpool’s visit.

Ferguson was rewarded instantly, Cantona creating a goal for Nicky Butt inside two minutes, but Liverpool had their own superstar emerging at that time, and Robbie Fowler levelled with a wonderful strike past Schmeichel, before muscling out Gary Neville to make it 2-1.

Cantona, though, had the last word, equalising from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining, celebrating in iconic fashion by climbing the stanchion. 

Liverpool got their revenge when the sides met at Anfield that December, Fowler scoring twice in a 2-0 win, but Cantona would have the final say in the campaign…

It will be forever be remembered as the game which cemented the image of Liverpool’s ‘Spice Boys’ in the eyes of the world, but it was also one which secured United their second league and cup double in the space of three seasons. 

Liverpool had, boldly, opted for white suits for their second FA Cup final appearance in four years, taking advantage of goalkeeper David James’ working relationship with Giorgio Armani. 

United, who had sensibly opted for a more classic, were the ones who got the cream, however, Cantona’s late volley - after a poor punch from James - securing victory in an awful game, and ensuring the Liverpool suits would pass into folklore for all the wrong reasons.

Manchester United completed an unprecedented - and as yet unrepeated - treble in 1998-99, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the space of 10 days. 

But Liverpool came as close as anyone to ending that dream. Gerard Houllier’s side were just two minutes away from victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round, only for United to summon the kind of late drama for which Ferguson’s side became renowned.

First Dwight Yorke equalised in the 88th minute and then, in stoppage time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swivelled in the box to fire inside the near post and seal a remarkable comeback.

It would not be the Norwegian’s last great contribution that season…

Danny Murphy, for a spell, became synonymous with this fixture, scoring the winning goal for Liverpool at Old Trafford three times in four seasons.

The first of those came in December 2000, as the Reds recorded their first win away to United in 10 years. Murphy netted a perfectly-placed free-kick in front of the Stretford End after Gary Neville had inexplicably handballed.

He would repeat the trick the following year, and again in 2004, as Liverpool enjoyed a good spell against their fierce rivals under Houllier.

Though it is unarguable that Liverpool and United are English football’s two biggest clubs, it is remarkable that they have rarely found themselves competing against one another in a genuine title race.

One such occasion, though, came in 2008-09, when Rafa Benitez’s Reds side of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso headed into the New Year top of the table, with Ferguson’s team of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez struggling to keep up.

Benitez, famously, opted to call out Ferguson in the media. His “facts” press conference in January 2009 caused stirs, and prompted claims from the United fans that the Spaniard had cracked under the pressure.

Benitez would be smiling when Liverpool went to Old Trafford in March, though. Liverpool trailed to Ronaldo’s early penalty, but hit back before half time through Torres and Gerrard.

Fabio Aurelio curled in a free-kick after Nemanja Vidic had been sent off, and substitute Andrea Dossena added a beautifully-humiliating fourth in time added on.

Benitez, to his credit, resisted the urge to rub it in afterwards, although in fairness, he did bring on both Dossena and Nabil El Zhar during the game.

In the Premier League era, only one United player has ever managed to score a hat-trick against Liverpool.

That player was Dimitar Berbatov, and his treble featured one of the best goals ever scored in this famous old rivalry.

The Bulgarian had already headed his side into the lead at Old Trafford when he collected an outswinging cross from Nani with his back to goal. Despite the presence of Jamie Carragher, Berbatov was able to hook an outrageous overhead kick into the net via the underside of the bar from beyond the penalty spot. It was truly stunning.

A brace from Steven Gerrard looked to have stolen a point for Liverpool - who were in the midst of the unhappy, short-lived Roy Hodgson era - but Berbatov had the last laugh, scoring another header to become the first United player to score three against Liverpool since 1946.

“Welcome to Manchester, Anthony Martial!” was the famous - and more than a little overexcited - line from Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler after the Frenchman had marked his debut with a well-taken, if slightly-fortuitous goal at Old Trafford.

Martial had arrived for a big fee and with much publicity, and his strike sealed a deserved win for Louis Van Gaal’s side, who led comfortably through Daley Blind and an Ander Herrera penalty, before Christian Benteke - remember him? - pulled a goal back for Liverpool with a stunning overhead kick.

It was the moment Liverpool fans, even the most naturally pessimistic of them, knew their long wait for a league title was coming to an end.

The Reds were already 13 points clear at the top of the table when they welcomed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United to Anfield, but their 2-0 win, sealed by a late Mo Salah goal in front of the Kop, drew celebrations that had rarely been seen in the famous old stadium.

Virgil van Dijk headed Jurgen Klopp’s team ahead in the first half, but it would take until stoppage time for the points to be secured, Salah sent clear by Alisson Becker’s long kick to slide under David De Gea in front of the Kop. Off came the Egyptian’s shirt, with his goalkeeper the first player to reach him. “And now you’re gonna believe us,” sang the home supporters, “we’re gonna win the league.”

They did, although only after a nervy, coronavirus-induced delay.

Liverpool’s last visit to Old Trafford was one of their most memorable, Salah and Co. putting a miserable United to the sword with four first-half goals, on a day when Reds fans could do little but revel in their rivals’ misery.

Solskjaer’s era was falling apart, but even his fiercest critic would have been shocked at the manner in which Liverpool ran riot. Naby Keita gave the visitors an early lead, Diogo Jota added a second and by the break United were four down, Salah scoring twice in front of the Stretford End.

He would complete his hat-trick after the break, the first Liverpool treble against United since 1990 and the first at Old Trafford since 1936, and United’s pain was complete when Paul Pogba, a half-time substitute, was dismissed for a studs-up lunge on Keita. Liverpool effectively declared at five, their fans chanting ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ on loop in the away end. Cruel, but memorable.