Liverpool v Manchester United: Minding the gap

Manchester United and Liverpool have traditionally battled for supremacy in English football.

Liverpool’s golden period, starting in the mid-1970s and spanning the 1980s, gave way to Alex Ferguson’s dominant reign at Old Trafford, when United usurped their rivals’ tally of 18 top-flight titles.

As such, the Merseyside club have generally played second fiddle during the Premier League era – but that might all be about to change with Jurgen Klopp at the helm.

United have never been further behind Liverpool in the Premier League before Christmas than the yawning 16-point deficit they will aim to make a dent in at Anfield on Sunday.

Here, we look back at some other moments when this battle has been fought on uneven terms.

United on the eve of a golden era

Jose Mourinho’s track record as a proven winner was supposed to provide the antidote to the fallow post-Ferguson years at United.

While that has not yet proved to be the case, the under-fire Portuguese can perhaps find consolation in the fact that the last United boss to find himself 16 points behind Liverpool in December was… Alex Ferguson.

#OnThisDay in 1986, Sir Alex was appointed manager of #MUFC…

…and the rest, as they say, is history.  pic.twitter.com/pYG5uKPIPX

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) 6 November 2018

The redoubtable Scot would hardly have been feeling festive on Christmas Eve 1990 as United sat in seventh on 28 points, looking up at Division One leaders Liverpool on 44.

The Reds were reigning champions and on track to add a 19th title. But Kenny Dalglish stood down the following February, George Graham’s Arsenal finished in top spot and Liverpool began a wait that continues to this day.

United improved marginally to finish sixth – 17 points behind Liverpool – and were runners up to Leeds United the following season before lifting the inaugural Premier League in 1992-93.

Leaving the perch

When Ferguson’s United made it back-to-back titles in 1993-94, Liverpool were 32 points worse off in eighth position.

It proved to be a chastening two decades, with the 2001-02 campaign under Gerard Houllier the only time Liverpool finished ahead of United. They were second behind Arsenal on 80 points, with the third-placed Red Devils on 77.

The biggest difference came in 2011-12, when United missed out on the title to Manchester City on goal difference but were still 37 points better off than Liverpool in eighth.

Indeed, during Ferguson’s final four campaigns at the helm, Liverpool were never within 22 points in the final reckoning.

E X Q U I S I T E #OnThisDay in 2010, Berba did this. pic.twitter.com/Q5PjvPZY5R

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) 19 September 2018

Going close under Rodgers

It meant the 2013-14 season was something of a culture shock for all concerned. United began a new era under David Moyes that they swiftly decided was a mistake. Following the Scot’s sacking they limped to seventh place.

Brendan Rodgers brought Liverpool to the edge of glory, only for City to seal their second Premier League in three years on the final day.

Steven Gerrard loved scoring at Old Trafford! #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/zpUOM45xXO

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 13 January 2017

Liverpool finished 20 points ahead of United – their strongest position in the rivalry for a generation, while a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in March 2014 showed the kind of gulf in glass some in Manchester fear might be exposed this Sunday.

In three of the subsequent four seasons, United ended up back above Liverpool. One of the challenges for Klopp and his undefeated title-chasers is to turn this advantage into something more permanent.