MANCHESTER UNITED AND Liverpool face off at Old Trafford on Sunday in the 190th match of a bitter rivalry that dates back to 1894.
Here, AFP Sports selects some of the most memorable goals to have graced matches between the teams over the last 30 years:
JAN MOLBY (LIVERPOOL 2 United 1, League Cup fourth round, November 1985)
- Molby’s strike became known as the ‘Lost Goal’, as industrial action meant that there were no television cameras present for the match. Shortly before the hour, the Danish midfielder whisked the ball off Norman Whiteside’s toes inside his own half and advanced downfield before cracking a shot into the top-left corner from just outside the box. Footage of the strike finally emerged in 2009 when it was released by Molby; who, it transpired, had been given a police surveillance video of the game by then-United manager Ron Atkinson.
RYAN GIGGS (Liverpool 3 UNITED 3, Premier League, January 1994)
- One of the most entertaining games between the teams took place just over 20 years ago, with United racing into a 3-0 lead at Anfield before Liverpool stormed back to force a draw. Giggs scored the match’s stand-out goal, picking up a loose pass from Jamie Redknapp and riding a challenge by Mark Wright before lobbing Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar from 25 yards.
ERIC CANTONA (UNITED 1 Liverpool 0, FA Cup final, May 1996)
- United had won the league title six days earlier and were attempting to complete their second double against a Liverpool side dubbed ‘the Spice Boys’, who arrived at Wembley for the final wearing cream-coloured Armani suits. A dour game was drifting towards extra time when, in the 85th minute, Liverpool goalkeeper David James met a David Beckham corner with a tame punch and Cantona adjusted his feet superbly to drill a half-volley through a phalanx of defenders and into the net.
STEVEN GERRARD (LIVERPOOL 2 United 0, Premier League, March 2001)
- United finished the 2000-01 season 11 points clear of third-place Liverpool at the top of the table, but it was Gerard Houllier’s side who came out on top when the teams met in the league at Anfield. Gerrard set the hosts on their way with a fabulous 16th-minute strike, collecting a lay-off from Robbie Fowler and arrowing a 25-yard drive into Fabien Barthez’s top-right corner.
DIMITAR BERBATOV (UNITED 3 Liverpool 2, Premier League, September 2010)
- Arguably the highlight of Berbatov’s hit-and-miss Old Trafford career saw him become the first United player to score a hat-trick against Liverpool for 64 years. His second goal, scored in front of the Stretford End, was the crowning glory. Receiving a right-wing cross from Nani with his back to goal, the Bulgarian controlled the ball on his right knee and then launched an acrobatic overhead kick that flashed into the top-right corner.
