Liverpool’s next league match has the importance of the highest magnitude: away to Manchester United.
Unfortunately, the unattainable dream of seeing Daniel Sturridge’s return to the team for this match was finally put to bed, and Philippe Coutinho is suspended.
Liverpool and United are even on seven points; good enough to be tied for fifth after just four league games. Both haven’t exactly been lighting the league on fire and are both coming off a loss. Granted, Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to West Ham is a bit worse than United’s 2-1 loss away from home to Swansea City. Alas, zero points is zero points no matter how they come.
So, instead of being downtrodden and pessimistic following that defeat at Anfield to West Ham, let’s take a walk through five of Liverpool’s best wins at Old Trafford.
5. Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool – 7/4/1982
Bob Paisley’s men marched out to Old Trafford and the league leaders took care of business against fifth-placed United in April of a title winning season. Craig Johnston scored in the second half and Bruce Grobbelaar saved a penalty off Frank Stapleton.
4. Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool – 18/3/1990
In Liverpool’s most recent title-winning season, as disheartening a sentence to write, the Reds came to Old Trafford and left with all three points in a mid-March fixture. A John Barnes brace was enough to beat United on the day. Liverpool pushed up to second in the table after the result and United dropped to 16th. Grobbelaar was still between the posts for Liverpool and Kenny Danglish was in the dugout.
3. Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool – 26/12/1978
Paisley did the business at Old Trafford four years prior to #5’s win and did it more emphatically. In another title-winning season, Liverpool trounced United. Dalglish was on the pitch for this one, yet surprisingly not on the score sheet. Ray Kennedy, Jimmy Case and David Fairclough scored the goals in the win.
2. Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool – 14/3/2014
In the midst of a borderline magical march toward the title, that ultimately fell short of course, Liverpool beat United 3-0. One of Brendan Rodgers’ best wins in charge of Liverpool, Steven Gerrard netted the first two goals of the match, both penalties, before later smashing the post on his third penalty attempt.
Luis Suarez grabbed the last goal in a great day for all associated with Liverpool Football Club. Raheem Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez led a devastating attack, and Coutinho entered from the bench.
1. Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool – 14/3/2009
Liverpool’s best win at Old Trafford came six years ago on a day that Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net. His goal came first, followed by a storm of four from Rafa Benitez’s team. Fernando Torres equalised, then captain Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead on a penalty in the first half. Liverpool added another two late on from Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena. A truly memorable day for the Reds.
How will next weekend’s match turn out? Is it a bad omen that four of these five games were in either March or April? Let us know how you think the game will go.
