Liverpool may have added their sixth Champions League to their trophy cabinet in the summer but this Sunday they will be looking for only their sixth win at their fierce rivals Manchester United.
In the previous 27 seasons of the Premier League, Liverpool have only managed 5 wins at Old Trafford, a statistic that Jürgen Klopp’s team will be aiming to build on as his side sit top of the League, 8 points clear of current Champions Manchester City. More impressively the Reds are aiming to equal City’s record of 18 consecutive Premier League victories, an achievement which would seem even sweeter if it came against their hated rivals. But can Liverpool read anything into their previous away wins against Utd? Here we take a look back at their previous 5 away wins.
Man Utd 0-1 Liverpool: 17th December 2000
This was Liverpool’s first win at the Theatre of Dreams since 1990 and their first in the Premier League era. Danny Murphy secured the win with an incredible first half free kick that will live long in the memory of Liverpool fans, beating Fabien Barthez. In the second half Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool withstood Utd’s pressure to secure the win. However the Red Devils went on to win the title that year finishing 11 points of Liverpool who ended the season in third place.
Man Utd 0-1 Liverpool: 22nd January 2002
Just over a year after their last victory Danny Murphy proved to be the hero once again. This time however his goal was not as spectacular as his last. It came in the 85th minute after a game which saw Liverpool bring an end to Man Utd’s 8 game winning run which they were on at the time. The victory for Houllier’s side that day meant that they went 2 points behind Utd who were top of the table. The result though will be remembered as an important one in that season as it allowed Arsenal the chance to take advantage of Utd’s dropped points. At the end of that season it was in fact the gunners who went on to clinch the title.
Man Utd 0-1 Liverpool: 24th April 2004
By this point there was a pattern emerging as to how Liverpool were getting their victories at Old Trafford, that being a 1-0 win courtesy of a Danny Murphy goal. It was the Reds third triumph in four years at Old Trafford and ended Utd’s slim chances of winning the title that season. In the end the game was decided by Murphy’s penalty in the 63rd minute after Gary Neville brought down Steven Gerrard. Now Red Devil’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer missed a great opportunity near the end of the game to snatch a point. This was also the last time the Frenchman Houllier managed Liverpool against Utd.
Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool: 14th March 2009
Arguably Liverpool’s most memorable victory at Old Trafford of all time. Both teams were fighting it out for the title that season. Mind games were being played between managers Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson but on the day it was Liverpool who claimed the vital points and, something which pleased their fans more embarrassed Utd in their own stadium. The Spaniard Fernando Torres who scored twice terrorised Nemanja Vidic all afternoon which culminated with the Serbian being sent off. Captain Steven Gerrard also scored from the spot and kissed the camera in celebration with defender Fabio Aurelio scoring a free kick from 25 yards out. In the end though Utd went on to win the title that season ahead of Liverpool who finished behind them in 2nd place.
Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool: 16th March 2014
This fixture came in the first season post Sir Alex Ferguson with a fellow Scotsman, David Moyes taking charge of his first home league game against Liverpool. Unlike in recent years it was Liverpool this time chasing the title against Manchester City with Utd struggling to adapt to life under new management. Liverpool’s class showed on the day as a brace of penalties from Steven Gerrard and a late strike from Luis Suarez saw Liverpool claim another 3-goal victory margin. The following month David Moyes was sacked as Utd boss and the club finished 7th in the league, their lowest in the Premier League era. As for Liverpool they came agonisingly close to winning their 1st Premier League title after Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea and their collapse against Crystal Palace ultimately cost them.
It’s been 5 years since Liverpool have won at Old Trafford. With Liverpool flying at the top of the league and Utd struggling in mid-table Sundays fixture may be the best opportunity to get a rare away win in Manchester.
(Pic by Sdo216 under creative commons)
