BATTLE TO BE ENGLAND’S BEST
IT’S an instinctive reaction. A Liverpool player crosses the ball into the heart of the opposition penalty area and my left foot twitches. It doesn’t matter that these days I am sat suited and booted in my seat in Anfield’s gigantic new main stand and not wearing my old No.9 shirt. Old habits really do die hard. And when Manchester United come to town, it is twice as bad. The source of the rivalry between the reds of Liverpool and United has prompted some interesting theories through the years. Some say it has its roots in the building of the Manchester Ship Canal and the trade that was taken away from Liverpool dockers by their counterparts in Salford.
But my take on it is much more simple than that. It’s about two teams, 35 miles apart, staking their claim to be the best in England.
When Liverpool were dominating the league during the 70s and 80s, the only consolation the Mancs could take was by winning their head-to-head meetings.
When United started doing the same in the Premier League era, Scousers had the same mentality.
Liverpool could boast 19 league titles and five European Cups. United have taken one record away, but Liverpool’s edge in European competition keeps the rivalry burning.
Liverpool v United remains the biggest fixture in the Premier League calendar and can only be rivalled by Real eal Madrid v Barcelona and Celtic v Rangers.
I suffered a few times against United – but we won’t go into that. My most treasured memory was when I scored twice at Old Traffordord in a 2-2 draw in October 1995.
The game will always be remembered as Eric Cantona’s comeback after the Frenchman had served a nine-month ban for a kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan. Nicky Butt put United ahead, but I equalised with a sweet angled strike that embarrassed Peter Schmeichel.
Then, in the second half, I beat Schmeichel again, with a lofted shot – although I took as much pride from barging Gary Neville off the ball as I did the finish. But Cantona (below) stole a point that United didn’t really deserve – as well as the headlines – with a late penalty.
United have won their last four Premier League meetings wit with Liverpool. But it was Liv Liverpool who progressed wh when the two teams met in the Eu Europa League last season. I think that if my old club at attack with the same f ferocity that has already s seen them beat Arsenal, Chelsea and champions Leicester, then they will de deliver a result that will con confirm my belief that they ca can win the title and add a another chapter to the great h history of the fixture.