Liverpool are celebrating the centenary of Anfields famous stand this season. Theyve not always had it their own way, however. In this two-part feature, we recall when United silenced the Kop
Wayne Rooney Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1, 15 January 2005
Returning to Anfield in the red of United instead of the blue of Everton ensured Wayne Rooney of a lively return to his home city, but when he scored the only goal of an ill-tempered match, his popularity in L4 plummeted further. Not that the striker, or United, were unduly concerned. Rooneys goal, a 25-yard shot on 21 minutes that evaded the outstretched hand of Jerzy Dudek, saw United extend a 10-match unbeaten run in the Premiership and Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for a side that had just kept a seventh successive clean sheet. I saw the performances of Arsenal and Chelsea here, and I thought ours was the best of the lot, he said. United even managed to hold out after the dismissal of Wes Brown on 65 minutes, and by the time Rooney was replaced by David Bellion with just a minute to go, The Kop were forced to admit that he had done a number on them.
Jamie Carragher Liverpool 2 Manchester United 3,11 September 1999
Most Liverpool supporters would have been delighted to see the name Jamie Carragher appear twice on the scoresheet before half-time, but closer inspection shows the Liverpool man put both goals past Sander Westerveld, and not United debutant Massimo Taibi. With United storming away at the top of the Premiership, the trip to Anfield was expected to hand them their toughest test of the season. However, in keeping with Liverpools propensity for self-destruction when faced by their north-west neighbours, events on the pitch soon had The Kop shaking their heads in collective disbelief. Only four minutes had passed when Carragher deflected a Ryan Giggs cross past Westerveld.
Andy Cole then added a second on 18 minutes, but after Hyppia had pulled one back for Liverpool it was game on, until once-again the hapless Carragher intervened a minute before half-time. A David Beckham free kick was met by Henning Berg and, courtesy of deflections off Rigobert Song and finally Carragher, Uniteds two-goal lead was restored. You cant give Manchester United starts like that and expect to take anything from the game, said Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier at the final whistle. A downcast Kop nodded as one in agreement.
Diego Forlan Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2, 1 December 2002
Youre a legend now and can stop playing football, was how Gary Neville greeted Diego Forlan when he returned to the dressing room having scored twice in three minutes to win 2-1. His second goal, scored as Liverpool were still recovering from his opening blow just minutes before, followed a move involving Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs but, once again, owed much to Jerzy Dudek. As Giggs found Forlan, the Uruguay international still had work to do but, inexplicably, Dudek decided to do most of it for him. He got a hand to Forlans shot but could only look on as the ball crawled into the back of the net. The Kop were left open-mouthed as Forlan wheeled away in celebration, and although a Sami Hyppia goal six minutes from time briefly gave them hope, when Alan Wiley blew for full-time Dudek was left wishing that Anfield would swallow him up. Forlan, in contrast, was beaming.
Denis Irwin Liverpool 3 Manchester United 3, 4 January 1994
Uniteds last match before the original Kop was replaced by an all-seater stand in the summer of 1994 provided a fitting finale. A ninth-minute header from Steve Bruce, following a cross from Eric Cantona put United in front before a spectacular 20-yard strike from Ryan Giggs extended the lead. And just when United fans thought thingscouldnt get any better, Roy Keane was fouled by Neil Ruddock to concede a free-kick 20 yards out. Step forward Denis Irwin, who curled the ball past keeper Bruce Grobbelaar and into the top right hand corner. Only 24 minutes of the match had elapsed and United, who were 13 points clear of their nearest challengers in the Premiership, were 3-0 up in Liverpools own backyard. But as the travelling supporters belted out a heartfelt chant of theres only one Graeme Souness, Nigel Clough struck to put Liverpool back in contention. He scored a second goal before half-time. Liverpool piled on the pressure, and when Razor equalised with a header after 79 minutes, Liverpools comeback, in one of the most gripping encounters between the two sides, was complete.
Pat Crerand Liverpool 0 Manchester United 2, 31 October 1964
A United side containing the holy trinity of Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton were flying high at the top of the table as they travelled to Anfield to face their old foes. And despite the best efforts of a frenzied Kop, the trio came away with two crucial points. It was far from plain sailing, though. David Herd scored for United after 35 minutes following a cross from Charlton but, with Liverpool pressing for an equaliser, it wasnt until the hour mark that Pat Crerand, who was in sparkling form, according to The Times, made the game safe. Surging upfield he took a return pass from Law before coolly lobbing Liverpool goalkeeper, Tommy Lawrence. The deafening Anfield chorus could neither demoralise Manchester nor rejuvenate Liverpool, The Times reported. How right he was. While United eventually claimed a sixth league title, Liverpool, under Bill Shankly, limped home in seventh place.
