Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Liverpool came out as 3-0 winners over Man United at Old Trafford in 2014. (Image: John Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
The latest instalment of Liverpool's rivalry with Manchester United unfolds this weekend. The two sides clash at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in what is shaping up to be a fascinating contest.
Going into the fixture, United are in third spot in the Premier League table, with Liverpool one place and three points adrift. While both appear destined to secure Champions League football next term, there is far more at stake than mere points in this encounter.
The animosity between the two clubs means bragging rights belong to whichever side wins. Across the 207 previous meetings, Liverpool have won 67 times, United 81 times, while there have been 59 draws.
In March 2014, it was Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool who came out on top with a 3-0 victory over David Moyes' United. Strikes from Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez clinched the win.
The match formed part of a troubled spell at Old Trafford for Moyes, who was eventually dismissed just over five weeks later. The manager had been handed the task of succeeding the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson in the hot seat.
That handover did not unfold as anticipated, and it is an episode in the days following the loss to Liverpool that Wayne Rooney reckons encapsulates the period.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page
Speaking on the Overlap's Stick to Football, brought to you by SkyBet in 2024, Wayne Rooney recalled that turbulent time. "Firstly, we were losing the core of the team really," he said. "Giggsy (Ryan Giggs), Rio (Ferdinand), (Nemanja) Vidic, they were all on their last legs basically. We were losing that presence in the dressing room.
"There was literally me and Michael Carrick left still playing from that generation. Then you're getting the likes of Jesse Lingard coming through, and (Danny) Welbeck, (Tom) Cleverley. They've had good careers but it was never the same.
"Football was changing. The behaviour of players, of course we'd misbehave or go out do whatever, but I think everything was changing around football and I think that was a big time.
Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring the first goal with his team-mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool.
Steven Gerrard opened the scoring for Liverpool against Manchester United. (Image: Alex Livesey, Getty Images)
View 2 Images
"I always remember coming in after the Liverpool game when we got beat (at Old Trafford in 2014 under Moyes). Lads were coming in, dancing around the dressing room the next day, hip hop music on.
"I remember taking the music out. You can try to control as much as possible, but in the end you can't really."
When Gary Neville put it to him that the incident was the viral clip Paul Pogba posted via Jesse Lingard on social media, Rooney replied: "That was another one after that! You look at it and you just think it's... (shrugs)"
Since Moyes was shown the door, United have cycled through numerous managers, both permanent and caretaker. Michael Carrick currently occupies the dugout, having stepped in to replace Ruben Amorim back in January.
Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 byclicking here
Content Image
Content Image