As Liverpool head to Man United looking for a priceless victory, what have been the Reds’ five best wins at Old Trafford?
The biggest match in English football dominates the weekend action, as Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho go head to head once more.
There are just two points separating the bitter rivals, and a win for Liverpool would arguably be their most significant of the season so far.
Old Trafford hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Reds down the years, but when victories have arrived they’ve been highly enjoyable.
Here’s what we think are Liverpool’s five most memorable Old Trafford triumphs.
5. Man United 0-1 Liverpool (2001/02)
Just over a year after Danny Murphy had etched his name into Reds folklore – more on that later – the midfielder was at it again in Manchester.
Liverpool’s 2001/02 side eventually finished second behind Arsenal, but this gritty victory showed exactly why they were superior to United that season.
Murphy’s late effort was beautifully dinked over Fabien Barthez, but it was the assist from Steven Gerrard that made it – a gorgeous pass bent around the United defence.
It was a performance that personified Gerard Houllier’s pragmatic Liverpool, and sealed a league double over their rivals, following the John Arne Riise-inspired 3-1 win two months earlier.
4. Man United 1-2 Liverpool (1989/90)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CRJAt26idk
As the Reds’ painful wait for a league title approaches 28 years, we are reminded of the last time they were crowned champions.
Kenny Dalglish‘s side visited Old Trafford in March of the 1989/90 campaign, knowing a win was vital in order to remain on the heels of leaders Aston Villa.
John Barnes was a colossus of a footballer at this point, and it was his two goals that fired Liverpool into a 2-0 lead.
There was time for Ronnie Whelan to produce one of the worst goals in the club’s history, lobbing Bruce Grobbelaar, but it made no difference to the final outcome, thankfully.
Title number 18 was soon sealed.
3. Man United 0-3 Liverpool (2013/14)
In terms of easy Old Trafford wins, this quite comfortably comes out on top during the Premier League years.
United were a shambles under David Moyes in 2013/14, and with Liverpool on the hunt for the title, there was only going to be one winner.
Gerrard was even kind enough to take pity on the hosts and miss his third – yes third! – penalty of the afternoon, having already dispatched two past David de Gea.
Luis Suarez put the icing on the cake, and while the boos rang out around the self-proclaimed ‘Theatre of Dreams’, the Reds looked every bit the best team in the country.
2. Man United 0-1 Liverpool (2000/01)
For a generation of Liverpool supporters, this meant so, so much.
United had dominated the 1990s, and by the time 2000 rolled around, the last time the Reds had tasted success at Old Trafford was the aforementioned win in 89/90.
A famous day for the Merseysiders saw Murphy convert a first-half free-kick, following a handball by pre-Sky-nice-guy Gary Neville, and the visitors clung on for a win.
There was even time for Luke Chadwick to be sent-off for hauling down the goal-bound Vladimir Smicer in the final minutes.
Alex Ferguson’s side had not lost at home in the league for very nearly two years, showing what an achievement it was by Houllier’s dogged team.
1. Man United 1-4 Liverpool (2008/09)
Liverpool’s best ever away win in the Premier League: simple as that.
United’s side of the late 2000s was outstanding if we’re being honest, and only a win would do for the Reds back in 2008/09 in order to stay in the title race.
Rafa Benitez had built a formidable outfit of his own, however, with Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano making up the “best midfield in the world”, and they were exceptional on a joyous March afternoon.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty looked set to inflict another Old Trafford defeat on Liverpool, but Fernando Torres, Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and even Andrea Dossena had other ideas.
It was an almost perfect away display, and the image of Dossena’s lofted effort going over Edwin van der Sar’s head, with dejected United fans looking on in the background, remains a thing of real beaut to this day.
What is your favourite Old Trafford win? Let us know in the comments section.
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