Premier League action is back after two weeks of international football. All eyes are on the most anticipated fixture of the week. Liverpool vs Manchester United.

It would be fair to say that the fixture has lost a bit of excitement since both teams haven’t been at their best in recent years. But it still remains one of the most anticipated clashes in the English calendar. The rivalry between the two giants of English football goes back a long way.

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have dominated English football during their peak years. Liverpool are the most successful English club in European football with 5 European Cups and 3 UEFA Cups. Whereas Manchester United have won the league title a record 20 times, twice more than Liverpool.

Let’s have a look at what made this rivalry the biggest one in English football.

It wasn’t only football

The cities Liverpool and Manchester are just 56kms apart. Ever since the industrial revolution in England there was a sense of rivalry between the citizens of the two cities.

Manchester during most of the 18^th century held a lot of importance. It was in a sense the representative of the north of England. But later in that century Liverpool grew in significance. It had become a major sea port and played a key role in the growth and success of the cotton industry of the north.

The emergence of the Beatles and domination of Liverpool in the English football further increased the rivalry. The two cities still continue to be big rivals fighting for influence in the north.

Liverpool’s domination in the 70s and 80s

As far as football was concerned Liverpool under Bill Shankly were going places in the 60s. He took them from a struggling side in the second division to the top dog of English football. His first great team consisting of the likes Gerry Byrne, Ian St. John, Roger Hunt, Ron Yeats to name a few went on to win the FA Cup and league title on multiple occasions.

Shankly’s second great team starring Kevin Keegan, Emlyn Hughes, Steve Heighway, John Toshack went on to a different level and formed the base for the next manager Bob Paisley to build a team that would dictate European football. The signings of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Phil Neal had made Liverpool the best team in Europe. The supremacy continued under the successors, Joe Fagan and then Kenny Dalglish himself.

Although Manchester United had world class players like Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, Liverpool enjoyed a far superior record during this period.

Manchester United’s rise in the 90s

Liverpool were in turmoil after Kenny Dalglish shockingly resigned in February 1991. New manager Graeme Souness sold the core of Dalglish’s successful team. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson had overcome his initial struggles at the club and was ready to launch the next breed of Manchester United stars.

He was repaying the faith shown by the club by bringing huge amounts of success. Suddenly Liverpool were off the top of English football. Manchester United were dominating every competition domestically. The likes of Cantona, Denis Irwin, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and the class of 92 had become the core of the most successful team that the Manchester United fans had ever seen.

They went on to win the famous treble in 1999. Liverpool, despite producing young stars like Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher could never compete with Manchester United’s rise to the top of English football in the 90s and early 2000s.

Liverpool under Rafa Benitez became relevant again. They won the Champions League in 2005 and then came close to winning the title in 2009. But failed to make it one better than Manchester United.

Back to the present

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have struggled in the last few years. The rise of Manchester City and Chelsea has added a new dimension to English football.

However, the two new world-class managers, Jürgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho have added spice to this fixture. Both teams look really strong. Liverpool are in amazing form. Whereas Manchester United look really strong on paper.

Jose Mourinho faces a huge challenge at Anfield. A loss would put his team 6 points behind Liverpool, who could go level on points with Manchester City on top of the table with a win. The pressure on Mourinho is mounting as they have struggled for results. Klopp’s men would provide a very stern test on Monday night.

The fluidity of Liverpool’s attack

Liverpool’s fluidity in attack has been the key for them this season. Roberto Firmino as a false 9 has been brilliant at pulling defenders out of position. This creates the space for the likes Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane to run into. 

Jordan Henderson’s distribution has been immaculate up until now. The energy and work-rate he brings to this team is priceless. He has been fantastic at setting the frontmen through with crisp passes. The captain, alongside Gini Wijnaldum would be the key to winning the battle in midfield.

Jose Mourinho would be vary of this. He would want to keep Firmino and Henderson quiet for the entirety of the game. Ander Herrera would be tasked with controlling the midfield. His importance to the team on Monday cannot be stated more.

Liverpool can also bring on the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can if they need more physicality in midfield in the latter parts of the game.

Manchester United need to exploit set-pieces

Liverpool’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons has been set-pieces. They concede a lot of goals from there due to a lack physically imposing players. Manchester United, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba possess the physical strength to exploit this weakness.

Mourinho would encourage the likes of Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard to put more crosses into the box to try and make something happen. Manchester United must try and emulate what Chelsea did at Anfield in 2014. Slow down the tempo of the game, keep the Anfield faithful quiet.

A tough one to predict

Liverpool go into the game unbeaten in their last 5 games. It is tough to predict who would win this epic contest, but Liverpool go into the game as favourites. Jürgen Klopp would love to continue his Premier League manager of the month performances. Mourinho, on the other hand, is under pressure to re-establish the glory days among the Old Trafford faithful.

Predicted lineups:

Liverpool: Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Coutinho;

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Blind; Herrera, Pogba; Lingard, Mata, Rashford; Ibrahimovic;

Image courtesy: The Huffington Post