Manchester United will play host to Liverpool tomorrow evening, with a place in round four of this season's League Cup at stake.
These two North-West rivals have met on 213 occasions since their first encounter in 1894, although the majority of those have been league fixtures.
However, there has been a handful of Cup encounters down the years and so Sports Mole has picked out five of the most memorable knockout contests between the two.
1. Liverpool 1-2 Man United, 1977 FA Cup final
Throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, United supporters were forced to endure a period of domestic and European domination by their enemy from down the M62. It meant that any victory over Liverpool was something to savour, particularly when it prevented them from winning a treble of trophies, just as this one did. In the space of five second-half minutes, this contest was settled. First Stuart Pearson put Tommy Docherty's United in front in the 50th minute, but that was soon cancelled out as Jimmy Case turned on the edge of the area before beating Alex Stepney with a rising effort. The pendulum swung back United's way, though, with 55 minutes played as Lou Macari's shot deflected off Jimmy Greenhoff, leaving Ray Clemence in the Liverpool net stranded.
2. Liverpool 2-1 Man United, 1983 League Cup final
A particularly poignant success for Liverpool fans, mainly down to the fact that it was manager Bob Paisley's last ever final. It appeared that the clash would end in disappointment for Paisley and his team when United's 17-year-old Norman Whiteside shrugged off the attention of Alan Hansen to give Ron Atkinson's team a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. However, in the closing stages Alan Kennedy forced extra time with an effort from distance, before Ronnie Whelan curled in the winning goal. It marked a third successive victory for Liverpool in the League Cup and they would go on to win it again the following season.
3. Man United 2-1 Liverpool, 1985 FA Cup semi-final replay
Liverpool could look to the match above for some solace, but more often than not during the 1980s, they lost to United. In fact, out of 20 league meetings during that decade, the Merseysiders won just twice. This was the FA Cup, though, and having not won the competition for 11 years, it was a run that they were keen to end. Many felt that United had spurned their best chance of winning this tie, having twice taken the lead during the first match, only to be pegged back on both occasions. In the replay at Maine Road, it seemed that fate was going to conspire against United again when defender Paul McGrath put through his own net to give Liverpool a 1-0 half-time advantage. Step forward Bryan Robson, who as he so often did during his career at Old Trafford, lived up to his 'Captain Marvel' tag. He drew United level shortly after the restart with a strike from 25 yards out, before Mark Hughes scored the winner just before the hour mark, despite protests from the Liverpool players that the Welsh centre-forward was offside.
4. Man United 2-1 Liverpool, 1999 FA Cup round four
Not for the last time during United's treble success of 1999, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer proved to be their saviour in this fixture. The home side trailed for 86 minutes after Michael Owen rose above Gary Neville to head Liverpool in front. From that moment on it was all United, but a combination of the woodwork and David James's performance between the posts looked to have secured Liverpool's place in round five. But, with two minutes left, Andy Cole nodded the ball across goal for his strike partner Dwight Yorke, who was never going to miss from close range. Then, as Liverpool tried to get their heads around the fact that they now faced a replay, United substitute Solskjaer struck in stoppage time. He collected possession from Paul Scholes, before sending James the wrong way with a low finish inside the near post.
5. Liverpool 2-0 Man United, 2003 League Cup final
Earlier in the season Jerzy Dudek had gifted Diego Forlan two goals at Anfield as United ran out 2-1 winners - their only victory in six against Liverpool. In contrast, on this occasion the Polish goalkeeper exorcised his demons to play a major role in his side claiming the League Cup, now under the sponsorship of brewers Worthington. Steven Gerrard put the Reds into the lead before the break with an effort from distance that deflected off David Beckham. Sir Alex Ferguson's United pushed hard for a route back into the final, but each time they were denied by Dudek. His and Liverpool's stubbornness was then rewarded four minutes from the end when Owen broke away to beat Fabien Barthez, securing the trophy for his side for a seventh time in the process.
Liam Apicella
