da gbg bet： Liverpool welcomed fierce rivals Manchester United to Anfield this weekend, in what was one of their most important meetings in recent years, with both sides challenge for a place in the top four.
da betsson： With just two points separating the sides before kick-off, Sunday’s 2-1 victory for United could prove decisive in their bid to secure Champions League qualification as England’s most successful clubs went head to head in a dramatic encounter.
Since defeat at Old Trafford back in December, Liverpool had gone on a tremendous unbeaten run and were looking to leapfrog United into fourth place with victory this weekend. But with United full of confidence following their best performance of the season in defeating Tottenham, they produced another terrific display to end their rivals impressive sequence without defeat, with a brace from Juan Mata enough to secure the points.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was sent off moments after arriving into the action, with his stamp proving costly as the visitors opened up a five-point advantage in the race for Champions League qualification.
Arguably the Premier League’s most intense rivalry, there have been plenty of exciting clashes and dramatic moments between these two over the past few years, with both sides winning their fair share of matches. And with their latest meeting offering more of the same, here are five more memorable moments from years gone by.
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January 1999 – Man United 2-1 Liverpool
United’s last-gasp victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round was one of the defining moments of their famous treble winning season.
Trailing to an early header from Michael Owen, the visitors looked set to leave Old Trafford with the ultimate smash and grab with their goal appearing to live a charmed life.
However, the persistence of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side finally paid off as Dwight Yorke equalised with just two minutes of normal time remaining. But not content with a draw, up popped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in injury time to net a dramatic winner and kick start an historic few months for the club.
Little did we know that this wasn’t to be the only time the Norwegian would be the hero thanks to a late winner, as Bayern Munich were to find out.
March 2007 – Liverpool 0-1 Man United
John O’Shea was the unlikely hero this time around, as United left Anfield with a fortunate victory as they closed in on the Premier League title.
Having been second best for long periods of the game, the visitors were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Paul Scholes, and so would have been grateful to leave with a goalless draw.
O’Shea had other ideas however, and after Pepe Reina failed to deal with a free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo, the substitute was on hand to pounce and net another injury time winner for the Red Devils.
March 2009 – Man United 1-4 Liverpool
A game that lives long in the memory as the day that saw Liverpool forward Fernando Torres terrorise United defender Nemanja Vidic, as the visitors dished out a 4-1 thrashing to record their biggest win at Old Trafford in 73 years.
Having trailed to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, Torres got the better of Vidic; pressing him into a mistake before racing through and netting the equaliser.
Steven Gerrard then put the visitors ahead from the spot, before Vidic’s nightmare afternoon was complete as he was sent off for a second yellow card.
Fabio Aurelio fired home the resulting free-kick, before Andrea Dossena finished the scoring to keep alive Liverpool’s hopes of a first Premier League title.
September 2010 – Man United 3-2 Liverpool
This game belonged to Dimitar Berbatov, who scored a superb hat-trick in a 3-2 win to help his side on their way to another Premier League title. The home side seemed to be coasting to victory as the Bulgarian struck a wonderful overhead kick to put his side two up on the hour mark.
However, a brace from Steven Gerrard got the visitors back on terms, only for the striker to grab his third of the match with only six minutes remaining. His hat-trick saw him become the first United player since 1946 to score three in a game against their arch rivals.
March 2011 – Liverpool 3-1 Man United
Six months after Berbatov’s hat-trick, Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt was on hand to repeat the feat as the sides met in the reverse fixture, with Liverpool claiming a commanding win this time around.
The Dutchman’s trio of goals were not as complex as his United counterpart; all three coming from less than six yards out, but they were every bit effective as his partnership with Luis Suarez flourished on a terrific afternoon for the home side.
Two first half goals put the game to bed before Kuyt completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, tapping in a rebound after Edwin Van der Sar could only parry a Suarez free-kick.
Javier Hernandez netted a consolation in injury time, but the plaudits belonged to Liverpool and Kuyt in particular; the first man since Peter Beardsley in 1990 to score three against the Red Devils.