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Liverpool vs. Manchester United - A recent history of the north-west derby
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Liverpool vs. Manchester United is always a fixture to savour. The historic rivalry between these two sides has consistently produced passionate displays of entertaining football and Sunday’s game will hopefully continue the trend. A Different League takes a look at the past three north-west derbies at Anfield, ahead of this weekend’s tie.
March 2006/07 - Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
 With United top of the table and chasing their first title in four years, a win at Anfield would have put them in a great position. Liverpool, on the other hand, were more focussed on winning the Champions League but, even with an important game against Barcelona the following Wednesday, manager Rafael Benitez had resisted the temptation to play an under-strength team. After an uneventful first half it was Liverpool who had the momentum in the second. A string of chances from Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Xabi Alonso were denied by Van der Sar and when Craig Bellamy had a goal ruled out for offside the home fans began to sense this might not be their day. Nevertheless, things looked promising when Wayne Rooney’s knee injury meant he had to be substituted and Liverpool were gifted a chance to clinch the game when Peter Crouch was put through on goal only to be denied yet again by an acrobatic Van der Sar stop. With the match heading into injury-time, it looked destined to end as a 0-0 draw. Then, completely out of the blue, United earned a free-kick which Ronaldo fired at Reina. The Spaniard clumsily spilled the shot into the path of John O’Shea who buried it into the roof of the net. United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, celebrated wildly on the touchline as Manchester United went nine points ahead of Chelsea to make the title all but inevitable.
December 2007/08 - Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
United were looking to win their second successive title, whilst Liverpool were lagging behind and needed at least a draw to remain in the top four. An entertaining first half saw both sides go close with Anderson clearing Harry Kewell’s header off the line before Fernando Torres headed wide from close range. United responded well and, in the 42nd minute, Wayne Rooney’s shot was saved but subsequently fired home by Old Trafford’s new recruit Carlos Tevez and Ferguson’s team went into half time with a 1-0 lead. But the second half was a tenser affair as the Red Devils looked to protect their lead. Liverpool’s forwards were proving ineffective and Benitez decided to replace the disappointing Kewell with Ryan Babel. The switch appeared to have worked when Wes Brown headed the ball into Babel’s path and the Dutch winger produced Liverpool’s best chance of the game, shooting inches wide. However, United’s defensive resilience meant it was to not to be for Liverpool and as the final whistle blew, Liverpool fans knew they might have blown their title hopes for yet another season. Benitez’s side now lay outside the top four whilst it was a merrier Christmas for United who were at the top and would go on to clinch the title.
September 2008/09 - Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United
Liverpool for once went into this derby ahead of United, and a win would have seen them go top of the table. However, Liverpool’s star players Gerrard and Torres started on the bench after returning from injury and it looked like United would capitalise on this when, in the third minute, United debutant Dimitar Berbatov expertly set up Carlos Tevez who opened the scoring from close-range. Nevertheless, Liverpool duly responded when a lacklustre Van der Sar made a meal of Alonso’s cross, punching it into Wes Brown who couldn’t help but divert the ball into the net for Liverpool’s equaliser. Liverpool then proceeded to dominate and in the second half had some good chances to win the game. And this time, their dominance paid off as Dirk Kuyt passed to substitute Ryan Babel who scored the winner from 10 yards.
This was Benitez’s first ever Premier League victory over his main rivals since arriving at Anfield in 2004 and the victory was made even sweeter as Liverpool went top of the table. Liverpool fans were also in for a treat later on in the season as they did the double over United at Old Trafford winning 4-1. Ultimately, however, it was United who clinched the title once more.
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