As Liverpool and Manchester United head into the 198th instalment of one of the most famous rivalries in sport, there will be some who wonder whether a time machine has taken us back to the early 1960s. Then, as now, both teams were trying to recapture former glories, under managers who would go on to be recognised as truly special ones
Man United boss Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp's attacking style of play at Liverpool haS been too much for many teams to handle. Pic/Getty Images
Man United boss Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp's attacking style of play at Liverpool haS been too much for many teams to handle. Pic/Getty Images
As Liverpool and Manchester United head into the 198th instalment of one of the most famous rivalries in sport, there will be some who wonder whether a time machine has taken us back to the early 1960s. Then, as now, both teams were trying to recapture former glories, under managers who would go on to be recognised as truly special ones.
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Sir Matt Busby had lost the heart of the Babes in the Munich air tragedy, while Bill Shankly, his fellow Scotsman, had taken over a Liverpool team treading water in the Second Division. Between 1963 and 1967, the league championship alternated between Anfield and Old Trafford. Busby would go on to win the European Cup as well (1968), while Shankly was denied that honour only by the dark collusion between Internazionale and a dodgy Spanish referee.
Kop domination
It was the last time the two teams competed as equals. By the early 1970s, after Busby's retirement, United went into decline and were even relegated. Liverpool went from strength to strength, dominating England football for 15 years even after Shankly had made way for Bob Paisley.
In the early 1990s, Sir Alex Ferguson, who had taken over at United in the autumn of 1986, achieved his stated aim of 'knocking Liverpool off their ****ing perch'. Liverpool haven't won the league since 1990, and but for a season under Rafael Benitez (2008-09), they were in United's shadow right until Ferguson retired. The following season, as Brendon Rodgers nearly masterminded a title triumph at Anfield.
Now, with Jurgen Klopp having overseen a hugely positive start to Liverpool's season, and Jose Mourinho showing signs of getting to grips with the United job, both are legitimate contenders again.
After Luis Suarez inspired a 3-0 rout at Old Trafford in 2014, United have won all four league matches. Much has been said in recent days of how Klopp represents football modernity and Mourinho a fading method, but few Liverpool fans will be taking the Portuguese lightly after the damage he has done to their hopes on multiple occasions.
Klopp's gegenpressing ways have been too much for many teams to handle, but every opponent goes to play Liverpool knowing that there are enough defensive chinks to exploit.
United will be at their best once they find a reliable defensive-midfield option. But as the derby against City showed, they too have frailties at the heart of their defence.
Defeat won't spell doom
Defeat so early in the campaign will not spell the end for either team, but a win could be the spur. Whisper it softly, but another Busby-Shankly-like era could be upon us.
Dileep Premachandran is Wisden India's editor-in-chief
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