The 7 best matches between Liverpool and Manchester United

Premier League / Dan Fitch / 12 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Liverpool and Manchester United show their mutual respect for one another.

Dan Fitch takes a look at the some of the greatest matches between English football's most successful two clubs, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday, in what will be a major test of the home side's resurgence under Kenny Dalglish and United's unbeaten record this season.

It's a fixture with a rich history and if the game at the weekend is anything near as good as the following encounters, then we will have a real classic on our hands. Here are the seven greatest Liverpool v Manchester United matches.

Long before Manchester United won the treble themselves, they prevented Liverpool achieving the honour by beating them in the 1977 FA Cup Final.

The match was decided within a frenetic five-minute period. First, Stuart Pearson gave United the lead in the 50th minute with a drilled shot past Ray Clemence, only for Liverpool to equalise two minutes later from a half-volley from Jimmy Case.

In the 55th minute United got the final goal in fortuitous circumstances, as a Lou Macari shot deflected off the chest of Jimmy Greenhoff and found it's way into the Liverpool net. Having prevented Liverpool from winning the historic treble, Manchester United would become the first club to do so, some 22 years later in 1999.

Six years after losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup Final, Liverpool got some revenge as they won a League Cup Final between the rivals at Wembley.

Norman Whiteside had given United the lead in the 12th minute and they remained 1-0 up until 15 minutes to go, when Ray Kennedy made it all square. The game went into extra time and was ultimately decided by a sumptuous curling shot from Ronnie Whelan. In an emotional end to the afternoon, Bob Paisley walked up the famous Wembley steps to collect the trophy in what was to prove to be his last final as the Liverpool manager.

When you look back at Manchester United's treble-winning season of 1999, the defining memory is of the two late goals that saw them defeat Bayern Munich to win the Champions League, but it was only thanks to another pair of late strikes that United progressed past the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Michael Owen gave Liverpool an early lead that they managed to hold onto until two minutes from time when Dwight Yorke scored a late leveller. Heartbreak was to follow for the travelling Liverpool fans, when United's 'super-sub' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer grabbed a winning goal in the 90th minute, that was almost as important as his one in Barcelona later on in the season.

Liverpool went close to pipping Manchester United to the Premier League title in 2009 and the highlight of their campaign was a 4-1 win at Old Trafford in March, that revived their title hopes.

The game looked to be going United's way when a Cristaino Ronaldo penalty gave them the lead, but Fernando Torres equalised shortly afterwards and a Steven Gerrard penalty gave Liverpool at half-time 2-1 lead.

Nemanja Vidic had a torrid afternoon chasing Torres around and things got worse for him in the second-half, when he was sent off for fouling Gerrard and then saw Fabio Aurelio curl in the resulting free-kick from long-range. Andrea Dossena made it a crushing 4-1 defeat in injury time, to really rub salt in United's wounds.

Pretty much everything that has ever occurred in the life of Eric Cantona has been dramatic, so it's no surprise that when he made his return to the Manchester United team after an eight-month ban for attacking a fan, it came in a home match against Liverpool.

Cantona was soon in the thick of the action, as his cross found Nicky Butt in the opening seconds and the midfielder gave United the lead. The Frenchman wasn't the only player nicknamed 'God' by his own fans though and Robbie Fowler showed why he was held in such high-esteem at Liverpool with two brilliant goals either side of half-time to put Liverpool 2-1 up.

Of course, it was Cantona who had the last word. His pass put Ryan Giggs through on goal and when he was brought down in the box for a penalty, it was Cantona who cooly put the chance away and sent Old Trafford into delirium.

Early in Alex Ferguson's reign as Manchester United manager, his team travelled to Anfield needing a win if they were to have any chance of finishing above a brilliant Liverpool side that looked destined to win the league.

The omens looked good for the visitors when Bryan Robson gave United an early lead, but strikes from Peter Beardsley and Gary Gilliespie made it 2-1 to Liverpool at half-time, before a Steve McMahon thunderbolt in the second half made it a seemingly unassailable 3-1.

However, the introduction of Norman Whiteside gave some bite to Manchester United's midfield and a spell of pressure saw a deflected shot from Robson make it 3-2. The comeback was completed when Gordon Strachan was put through on goal and calmly slotted it past Bruce Grobbelaar.

If ever you needed proof that the form book goes out of the window in games between Liverpool and Manchester United, this mid-nineties thriller at Anfield serves as historical evidence.

Just as Manchester United were beginning to dominate English football, Liverpool were floundering as they tried to recapture past glories. United lived up to their billing as pre-match favourites when they took a 3-0 lead within 24 minutes, with goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Dennis Irwin. It looked like an evening of true misery was ahead for the home supporters.

Nigel Clough was one of many Liverpool signings during that era who struggled to adapt to life at the club, but he will live in the fans' memories for his contribution in this game. Clough gave Liverpool a glimmer of hope with a goal from 25 yards out, before putting them right back in it with a near identical effort. Neil Ruddock completed the unlikely comeback with a headed goal 12 minutes from time.

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Cricket World Cup Winner Betting: A shootout between the hosts

Cricket World Cup / Editor / 07 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka have a wonderful chance as joint-hosts

"So that leaves us with the big one to answer: India or Sri Lanka? Easy. We let the odds be our guide. Sri Lanka are a mighty good price at 6.00 considering they have been set up to succeed while India are contracting too quickly at 4.30."

Once the draw has been decided, the strength of the teams considered and the numbers crunched, India and Sri Lanka emerge as by far the two likeliest winners. But who should our money be on, asks Ed Hawkins.

On the face of it, the World Cup looks confusing: three host countries, 14 teams, 13 venues, 49 matches and six weeks to find a winner. But a much-maligned marathon of a tournament is actually the punters' friend.

Thanks to a projected draw and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh somehow managing to convince the ICC they are deserving of a home draws in the knockout stages, no matter where they finish, it is pretty simple.

Simple in the regard that the tournament is heavily skewed in favour of India and Sri Lanka. On surfaces which the rest of the competing nations, Bangladesh and Pakistan excepted of course, find alien you won't be going far wrong by backing either MS Dhoni's team or Kumar Sangakkara's.

India and Sri Lanka are on the opposite sides of the draw so there is a very real possibility - in line with outright market - that the top two contest the final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2. Both team are just over evens to make the showpiece.

Those who have been paying attention may squeal 'hang on, you said the hosts were guaranteed home ties in the knockout stage so what happens if they have to play each other?'. Good question. Venues will be decided by the seedings for the tournament with India ranked above Sri Lanka, and the Lankans above Bangladesh.

The top four from two groups of eight will progress. Group A consists of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya. In Group B are India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Holland.

Each winner of the group will play the fourth placed team in the opposite section in the quarter-finals with the second and third-placed teams playing off. You can check the draw here. If we used the odds as our guide to predict the semi-finals, it would look like this: Sri Lanka v South Africa, India v Australia.

Rarely do cricket World Cups respect the odds, however and there are sure to be upsets along the way. For example, [2.03] is available that not all of the Big Eight qualify. Indeed, Bangladesh should make the quarter-finals - they could torment West Indies and England in Mirpur and Chittagong respectively - and at [60.00] they represent an outstanding trading opportunity.

Pakistan are in the same boat at an attractive [11.00]. Despite worries about corruption, they are far too big, especially with the skill and knowledge at their disposal on dusty wickets. They bat deep and in Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar and an army of spinners they have the best bowling attack in the competition.

Tired England, who are [8.80], tepid West Indies at [22.00]and torrid New Zealand are ruled out at a point bigger because of their awful record in Asia in the last five years. They have win-loss ratios of 0.60, 0.57 and 0.41 respectively.

Australia at [6.60] and [6.80] South Africa fare much better in this regard. If there is to be an upset it might just be that Australia claim a fourth consecutive title. With a win-loss ratio of 2.33 they have the best record of any side, including the hosts.

South Africa are organised and efficient but as a wise man once said 'choking is what happens when you stop playing with instinct'. The Proteas always play by numbers.
So that leaves us with the big one to answer: India or Sri Lanka? Easy. We let the odds be our guide. Sri Lanka are a mighty good price at [6.00] considering they have been set up to succeed while India are contracting too quickly at [4.30].

Neither outfit have been exactly firing in recent years - India are ranked fourth on wins with Sri Lanka just behind in fifth - but there is remarkable pressure on Dhoni's team to claim glory as the first main host to do so and, notably in the World Twenty20 in England, they have proven they don't like such a burden.

Recommended bets: Sri Lanka to win World Cup [6.00], Bangladesh trade to win World Cup at [60.00], Pakistan trade to win World Cup at [11.00]

Win-loss ratios last two years: Aus 2.21, SA 1.83, India 1.47, SL 1.43 Eng 1.20, Bang 1.00, Pak 0.58, NZ 0.57, WI 0.39

Win-loss ratios last five years in India: Ind, Aus 2.00, WI 1.00, SL 0.85, SA 0.75, Pak 0.60, Bang 0.50, NZ 0.28, Eng 0.16

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Six Nations Betting: 5 classic games between Wales and England

Memories / Dan Fitch / 04 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

As Wales and England prepare for their Six Nations clash in Cardiff tonight, Dan Fitch looks back over some of the most memorable encounters between the two sides.

Tonight will see the 120th match between Wales and England. Of the 119 games played so far in this hugely competitive fixture, England lead in the all-time results by just one single victory.

Welsh hopes are boosted by the fact that they have home advantage tonight and have won 34 of the 57 meetings between the sides held in the principality. It promises to be a another exciting match, although it will have to go some way to match the best from the past. Here are five classic games between England and Wales.

Wales got off the perfect start to the Six Nations Championship of 2005, as they defeated England, after years of coming off second best in the fixture. England were winning by a point with just minutes remaining, before Gavin Henson struck a brilliant penalty to give the Welsh a long overdue victory.

Wales won the first World Cup encounter between the sides at the inaugural tournament of 1987, but England gained revenge in 2003.

It wasn't plain sailing though, as Wales scored more tries on the day, including this effort by Stephen Jones - considered to be one of the best tries ever scored at the World Cup.

In the centenary year for Welsh rugby, the trusty foot of England's Dusty Hare threatened to upset the home celebrations in Cardiff, but a try by Clive Davis helped Wales to clinch a narrow win.

England were rampant in this 2000 Six Nations encounter, in which they scored five tries against the Welsh in a one-sided victory. Yet it still couldn't quite make up for the pain of England's defeat against Wales from the previous year...

In the final game of the Five Nations Championship, England were leading by six points in injury time and heading for a Grand Slam and tournament title.

It was Scott Gibbs who put a spanner in the works when he evaded a number of tackles to score a try which put Wales right back in the game. Neil Jenkins then converted to give Wales victory by a single point and hand the championship to Scotland.

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