Match of the Week: Manchester United vs. Liverpool - A game like no other

Manchester United vs Liverpool FC 0:3 (0:2) became a triumph for "The Reds" and their new coach Arne Slot on September 1, 2024. We took a look at the England classic, for which Premier League football trips are absolutely worth it.

"Take me home, United Road," this song, adopted from country king John Denver († 1997), is one of the hit chants in Old Trafford.

Before the game against Liverpool FC, the "Red Devils" fans sang it louder than usual, hoping for a turnaround after a mixed start with a 1:0 win against Fulham FC and a 1:2 loss to the high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion.

A sense of optimism in Old Trafford – however, it was not felt during the following 90 minutes. "A clear setback for ten Hag," said colleagues from Sky Sports UK.

Three, the number of the day at Old Trafford, displayed by Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. Photo: Imago

And a memorable day for Liverpool FC and Arne Slot.

For the first time since 1975

The Dutchman, who took over the team from Anfield from the legendary Jürgen Norbert Klopp, became the second coach of Liverpool Football Club to win his first North-West Derby.

Before him, only the equally legendary Bob Paisley († 1996), who coached Liverpool FC between 1974 and 1983 in 530 competitive games, managed this, on November 8, 1975 (3:1).

At that time, for the sake of historical accuracy, David Bowie was number one in the UK singles chart with Space Oddity ("Ground Control to Major Tom") and a beer cost 11 pence.

Arne Slot also became the first Premier League coach since Sven-Göran Eriksson, who passed away on August 26, 2024, at the age of 76 (2007 with Manchester City), to win his first three games in the English top league without conceding a goal (2:0 at West Ham, 1:0 against Derby County, and 1:0 in the Manchester Derby against United).

Manchester United vs Liverpool FC – I had the chance to experience it live in England in 2009 when the "Reds" won 4:1 in their silver-gray jerseys, and LFC idol Steven Gerrard ("Oh Captain, my Captain!") kissed the TV camera in a jubilant frenzy.

0:5: United fans on the run...

Another moment I will always associate with this fixture was the mass exodus of United fans from the "Theatre of Dreams" on October 24, 2021, when Manchester played an empty Old Trafford with a 0:5 against Liverpool FC.

At that time, Mo Salah scored three times for Liverpool. "The Pharaoh," as Salah is called by the fans, also scored in the 3:0 against his favorite opponent.

The Egyptian, who according to his own statement wants to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, was involved in 16 of Liverpool FC's last 22 goals at Manchester United – with ten goals and six assists.

"Understatement and Coolness"

The 3:0, to which Colombian Luis Diaz contributed a brace, was a masterclass for new LFC coach Arne Slot.

"What impresses me most about Liverpool," said former Premier League pro Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live, "is the arrival of Slot – with understatement and coolness. They have made some changes slowly, it was great to see them under Klopp, but now they seem to have more control."

"I still love Jürgen Klopp," rejoiced LFC keeper Alisson Becker after the game on Sky Sports UK, "and I will love him for the rest of my life, he knows that. But I also like the determination and quality with which coach Arne Slot works, he demands something from the team."

Yes, just as the presence of Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson (82) as a stand guest at Old Trafford is still omnipresent – a multitude of banners reminds us of his incomparable era of success – so too is the shadow of Jürgen Klopp still at Liverpool FC. And that's a good thing.