A NATIONAL newspaper journalist once described a Manchester United v Liverpool match as “two bald men fighting over a comb”.
His point, at the time, was that neither side was threatening to win the league and, therefore, that the match didn’t really deserve the big billing it always receives.
Despite the Twitter pile-on, he received as a consequence of his observation from supporters of both clubs, there was a kernel of truth in there.
It won’t be Spurs, Liverpool or Man City who wield most influence on the #Premiership run-in, but @ManUtd.
In good form and still to play four of the other five teams in the top six (three at home). Spurs only team they don’t play. Win those games and the top gets v.interesting.
— David Green (@RevDavidGreen) February 19, 2019
Yes, a game such as this will always have the much-referenced “bragging rights” at stake. But it will always mean much more if there is something crucial riding on it – for either side.
Liverpool have just six away matches remaining in the Premier League this season: Manchester United, Everton, Fulham, Southampton, Cardiff and Newcastle.
And Sunday’s match at Old Trafford looks like being by far the toughest of them all. A win for Liverpool would be a huge step towards a 19th title. A defeat would be a major trip – and would undoubtedly be widely celebrated in Manchester, on blue and red sides of the city.
Some will scoff and snipe at the thought of United being fired up by the prospect of throwing a stick in the spokes of Liverpool’s title charge but those people should think again. We’ve taken great delight in doing exactly the same when the boot has been on the other foot. We should expect no different. In fact, we should celebrate it.
Football can feel a little anodyne at times – so if there’s an edge, an atmosphere, a reason for your stomach to knot, then all the better.
Twenty-seven years ago, on April 26, 1992, Manchester United arrived at Anfield needing to win to sustain a challenge for the league title.
Nine days earlier, Alex Ferguson’s United had been such overwhelming favourites to lift their first championship trophy in 25 years that bookmakers had stopped taking bets on them.
Ian Rush scored his first goal against Manchester United in 24 attempts as Liverpool won 2-0 and United slipped to a third defeat in seven days to hand the title to Leeds United.
The Reds were knocking round in sixth place in the league but that made it no less wonderful to belt out “You lost the league on Merseyside” to the rival fans at the opposite end of the Anfield pitch.
You can apply logic here all you like. You can put that into the context of what Manchester United went on to achieve – and what Liverpool didn’t. But in that moment, at that time, it was exactly the right reaction – and it felt sweet.
Easily my worst ever day watching #mufc. I'll never forget the glee of entire Kemlyn Road singing "you lost the league on Merseyside" at us. Everytime we shouted United, the scousers would shout Leeds. It made #lfc title collpase in 2014 all the sweeter. https://t.co/iBezQF4vKk
— Murph (@CornbrookSt_Red) April 26, 2018
Regardless of the performance of your own team, why would you want to see a rival win the league? Why would you want them to end a hoodoo, break the duck, get the monkey off their back or whatever other sporting cliches you wish to apply to the situation?
United fans – even though derailing Liverpool’s challenge would likely add momentum to Manchester City’s cause – are no doubt dreaming of something similar on Sunday.
For years, decades, they were fuelled by hatred and envy of what Liverpool were and what they were not. For our 29 barren title years see their 26 barren title years. Then, they watched on as we cleaned up. Then the tables turned and the roles switched. It’s been hard to stomach.
Now though, there’s got to be fears within the psyche of most Manchester United fans that one title for Liverpool leads to more titles for Liverpool. And when once we told them to “come back when they’d won it 18 times” now maybe they worry about how much longer they can sing “20 times, 20 times, Man United”.
Revived by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who still brilliantly bristles at suggestions he was once a Liverpool fan, there is no doubt that despite a 14-point gap between the sides, and despite Manchester United having no chance of the title this season, this will be no comb fight.
Solskjaer, then Cardiff City manager, famously said he “couldn't care less” when a reporter asked him about Liverpool's title chances following a 6-3 defeat to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side.
He definitely cares now – for himself, for United, and for his prospects of succeeding Jose Mourinho on a permanent basis at Old Trafford.
Liverpool, meanwhile, just have to stay cool despite the heat of the situation. And Jurgen Klopp is just the man to ensure that is the case.
Whereas once Rafa Benitez went head to head with Alex Ferguson and unfurled his sheet of facts about the Manchester United manager, it will not be Klopp’s way to engage in that manner, or that of Ferguson, who claimed that move by the Spaniard was motivated by “venom”.
FULL MAN UNITED V LIVERPOOL BETTING
Liverpool haven’t triumphed at Old Trafford since the last serious title challenge of 2013-14. Then it was a procession, David Moyes’ United undressed, Nemanja Vidic sent off for the fourth time versus The Reds, and Rodgers’ side winning 3-0 with Steven Gerrard even afforded the luxury of missing a penalty.
A repeat of that scenario would be nice but unlikely.
Yet older Reds may still be nodding and smiling at some of the plaudits heading United’s way right now. Those old enough to remember Through The Wind And Rain fanzine will recall ‘Manc Watch’ – which in every issue pointed to what was perceived as favourable treatment for United from the mainstream media. On an unnervingly regular basis.
Some might say something similar is happening right now. On Sunday we’ll find out whether they deserve it.
A £10 bet on Liverpool to beat Manchester United returns £23.00
