MAN UTD v LIVERPOOL: FOUR FA CUP CLASHES FROM THE MODERN ERA

FA Cup final, Wembley May 11, 1996 MAN UTD 1 LIVERPOOL 0

THE first time the clubs had met in an FA Cup final since 1977. It will forever be remembered for Liverpool’s pre-match attire, the appalling white Armani suits. Turning up in such a garish ensemble meant Roy Evans’ team had to back it up with a performance but they failed miserably. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had predicted his team would win when he saw Liverpool’s clothing. ‘Why did they do that?’ he asked. A dire game was settled in the dying minutes, when Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James — who had been central to getting the suits — missed a corner and United talisman Eric Cantona fired home. The goal secured a second league and Cup double in three years for Ferguson’s dominant side.

Fourth round, Old Trafford January 24, 1999 MAN UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 1

WITHOUT this incredible turnaround, there is no immortality for the team who would become Treble winners. Liverpool took the lead from Michael Owen’s header in the fourth minute. This was Gerard Houllier’s first visit to Manchester in sole charge and the contest turned when Paul Ince came off injured for Liverpool. Houllier could not believe that his captain withdrew from the game so easily. Still, it looked like Liverpool would hang on until United’s pressure paid off. Dwight Yorke secured parity before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer caused pandemonium, deceiving James with a superb left-foot finish.

Third round, Old Trafford January 9, 2011 MAN UTD 1 LIVERPOOL 0

ONCE again, it was a United win. The circumstances around the fixture, however, were significant — as this heralded the return of Kenny Dalglish to Liverpool. Roy Hodgson had been sacked the previous day

and the sight of Kop legend Dalglish walking back to the dugout took Liverpool fans back in time. There was no dream comeback. United took the lead in the fourth minute with Ryan Giggs’ penalty and never looked like losing, particularly after Steven Gerrard was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Michael Carrick in the 32nd minute. ‘The penalty is a joke,’ Dalglish said of Daniel Agger’s coming together with Dimitar Berbatov. ‘I have seen the replay and, unless they have changed the rules, it is no penalty.’

Fourth round, Anfield January 28, 2012 LIVERPOOL 2 MAN UTD 1

ANOTHER fixture with plenty of drama. Liverpool took the lead through a goal from Agger but were pegged back when Park Ji-sung fired home. The Merseysiders eventually won it when Andy Carroll flicked on a goal kick for Dirk Kuyt to thrash home in the 87th minute. The backdrop to the fixture had a serious dimension. It was United defender Patrice Evra’s first return to Anfield since Luis Suarez had been found guilty of using racially abusive language towards him in a Premier League fixture in October 2011. Evra was captain for the game and ended up hurling his armband away in despair after substitute Kuyt had escaped his attention and scored the decisive goal.