RED RIVALRY
Foes with shared histories but contrasting identities embark on another pressurised chapter
“The fear for us in going to United was the bigger pitch,” said Jamie Carragher of his trying experiences playing for Liverpool against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the stadium where England’s two most widely supported and successful teams — rich in histories tinged with tragedy and triumph — meet on Saturday.
This time around, the extra space may well suit Jurgen Klopp’s pacey, dynamic side, however, perhaps finally tipping the tables back in their favour.
Liverpool invariably found it difficult in Manchester during Carragher’s playing days – most agonisingly for him when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a last-minute winner to knock them out of the 1999 FA Cup.
But Liverpool had their moments, their best undoubtedly being a famous 4-1 win at Old Trafford in 2009. Then, both teams were under pressure with realistic title aspirations. United were the form team, until they were rocked by Rafa Benitez’s side.
“That defeat gave focus,” said former Man Utd defender Patrice Evra. “We couldn’t believe the fans were still applauding us as we left the field. We realised then that we had to win the league for them. And we did.”
United didn’t crack in the run in – they turned it on during the gruelling period between March and April which Sir Alex Ferguson once famously described as ‘squeaky bum time’. Liverpool did. Just as they did in 2014 when they had their best chance of winning their first league title since 1990. That season produced Liverpool’s most recent victory at the home of their fierce rivals as a rampant Liverpool ran away 3-0 winners against David Moyes’ crestfallen side, ultimately contributing to the manager’s early departure.
United come into this weekend’s clash having won 10 of their last 13 at home to Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp’s men undoubtedly arrive as the form side, further along in their evolution under the German than United appear to be under Jose Mourinho. Saturday lunch time is set up to be a classic, with two contrasting styles facing off as Klopp’s dynamic, counter-attacking approach goes up against the more pragmatic Portuguese.
While Spain’s El Clasico delivers continual magnificence, recent United and Liverpool clashes have often seen pragmatism prevail – the 0-0 draw at Anfield in October being the latest, when Mourinho was both praised for earning a point and chastised for killing the spectacle.
United’s players are behind their manager, but they felt Liverpool’s defence was there to be attacked that day. Just as United fans felt Liverpool were there for the taking when the clubs met last season in another stalemate. The spotlight will turn to Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, United’s two superstars, who have struggled to find their best form of late. A big performance on Saturday will be most timely.
Klopp’s Liverpool, meanwhile, have been thrilling and exciting onlookers all season. They’ve scored 11 goals more than United, largely thanks to striker Mo Salah who has enjoyed a superb debut season in England, helping ease Philippe Coutinho’s departure.
Liverpool fans are delighted with the progress under Klopp and happy with his dynamic style of football. One defeat in 20 league games and progression into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals has reinforced the sense of progress. Moreover, they remain the only team to have beaten runaway leaders and their rivals’ notorious ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City so far this season.
Klopp’s side have been behind United in the table for much of the campaign, though they’d leapfrog Mourinho’s men into second if they can win for first time in M16 since 2014. United fans, however, aren’t unhappy either. Second in the Premier League, they remain in contention for the FA Cup and Champions League – and lead the chasing pack attempting to secure a seat at European football’s top table next season.
Like all the greatest football rivalries, it’s the common ground that divides the most. United and Liverpool both hail from largely working class, immigrant cities with huge Irish populations. Just 35 miles apart in England’s north west, both were economic powerhouses who enjoyed a friend/foe relationship by the 19th century. Liverpool revered itself as the greatest port in the world, gateway to North America for millions and a key trading post for the Empire. Manchester was ‘Cottonopolis’, the first city of the industrial revolution and so the phrase ‘Manchester made and Liverpool trade’ was coined.
Civic co-operation in anticipation of greater wealth ensured that the world’s first passenger railway was opened between the cities in 1830, but by late 1878, the year Manchester United were formed as Newton Heath, a world-wide trade depression saw Manchester grappling with economic stagnation and labour migration.
Liverpool was blamed for charging excessively high rates for importing the raw cotton spun in Lancastrian mills. The Manchester idea was that by ensuring the city had direct access to the sea to export its manufactured goods, Manchester could cut out the middleman of Liverpool. A canal big enough to carry ships was built, infuriating Liverpudlians as Manchester became England’s third biggest port.
This is a civic, cultural and social rivalry between two cities, who, when it comes to football and music, have long punched well above their respective demographic weights, making them special to millions around the globe, but also reinforcing and extending the rivalry.
United have won a record 20 league titles, something few of their fans thought possible as they left Anfield’s away end in 1992 having lost the league and with, ‘Have you ever seen United win the league?’ ring around their ears. United have won it 13 times since, surpassing Liverpool’s record of 18 titles.
Liverpool are yet to claim a title in the Premier League era, but they did win the 2005 Champions League and their fans delight in raising their hands to show their five European Cups or “that palm of a hand thrown in my face every time I’m there,” according to former United great Gary Neville.
Manchester United versus Liverpool is an eternal rivalry. Red on red, the biggest two clubs in the world’s biggest league. And this weekend they lock horns once again.
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