THE HATING
History and loathing tinged with a dose of respect make this THE fixture of the season
JOHN ALDRIDGE believes hatred still fuels Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United – even though Old Trafford is no longer a Theatre of Dreams.
But beneath the tribal rivalry between England’s biggest two clubs, alongside the loathing, is a deep mutual respect – a legacy from the history United and Liverpool have created over the past six decades at home and abroad.
United may be engulfed by troubled times as they search a way out of f the wilderness that hat trapped Liverpool ool after their glory ry years in t he e 1970s and 80s.
But former Kop hero Aldridge, who scored 63 goals s in 104 games for or Liverpool, admits its no game gets s his nerves jangling g more than United – and nd today’s clash at Old Trafford will be no different.
“I’ll be nervous as always because anything can happen.
“Just look at last season at Old Trafford when we were flying and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
“We didn’t approach that in the right manner, we were caught in two minds.
“We thought a point was probably a decent result away at United and Manchester City would probably not win all their remaining games. You look at United now and they are in a massive transition, they’re struggling big time.
“But this is Liverpool. They know.
“If you ask them who their biggest game is, it’s Liverpool. It’s not City and never has been and, historically, Liverpool’s biggest game is United.
“In terms of the title race, for Liverpool now the biggest match is probably City because of where the two teams are.
“But it’s really United because of the hatred – and the respect - between the two biggest teams by a million miles in England.
“I remember as a kid growing up my dad was a massive Liverpool fan but he loved George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Bob Charlton. He loved watching watc them. Who didn’t have respect for them them?
“What Manchester City are doing now, it’s just mad.
“But historically, as a L Liverpool player a and f an, it’s al always M Manchester
Uni United that I’ve wanted to be beat.
“Not even Everton who were excellent in the 80s.
“That’s just the way it is and always will be for me,” said Aldridge, speaking on behalf of Carlsberg, Official Beer of Liverpool FC.
Many Liverpool fans look back on the lacklustre, injury-hit draw at Old Trafford in February as a major missed opportunity in their bid to win the title for the first time since 1990.
But Aldridge reckons
if Liverpool reach the standards they’ve already shown at times this season today, they could embarrass Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s stars in their own backyard.
“We know a win against Liverpool could spur United and kick-start their season.
“It’s not been good so far, but this could be a turning point for them if they manage to win and it would move them in a better direction and kick them on.
“But at the same time Solskjaer will know if United don’t approach the game in the right way and do the right things this Liverpool side could maybe not destroy them, but certainly show them up.
Damaging
“And it would be a great day for Liverpool fans because any win at Old Trafford is worth celebrating.
“Last season maybe some fans perceived that draw as the result that was the most damaging one in the title race.
“But we drew against Chelsea, City, Arsenal, West Ham, Leicester and Everton and lost at City so it was an accumulation of results.
“I wouldn’t put it down to one result like the game at Old Trafford.
“But this is definitely a chance to make amends, especially as United aren’t in good shape.”