Manchester United and Liverpool : The two biggest clubs in English football history. 20 league titles to 18. Eight European Cups between them and 19 FA Cups.

These two sides have historically been the dominating forces in England, and despite no league title for five-years, when the pair meet, there's bound to be action.

United and Liverpool have been rivals since the 1800's, and even with their close proximity, this derby is more than about geography.

Economically, these two have been battling it out for centuries, with both Cities vying for the dominance of the North West.

On the pitch, there's been 227 games, with United having come out on top 13 times more than the Reds, who've managed 75 wins whilst there's been 65 draws.

And it's with a draw our list starts as we countdown the top five games between the old rivals at Old Trafford...

5. Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool 1995 (Premier League)

Cantona's famous 'pole dance' celebration (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

This game was famed for the return of Eric Cantona who came back after his notorious eight-month ban for that kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park.

It was dubbed the 'Return of the King' ahead of the match, and the Frenchman's introduction was the driving force behind United snatching a draw.

"You can hear the fanfares," Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler said. "It's the second coming of Eric Cantona."

It was the return of the King (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

It took just two minutes for the legendary number seven to make an impact as his cross found Nicky Butt who pinged the ball over the flailing David James.

It looked like the headlines were going to be taken away from Cantona, as Liverpool, with their own dynamo in 20-year-old Robbie Fowler, found their way back into the game.

He rifled home a screamer in the 32nd minute past Peter Schmeichel before delicately lofting the ball over the Great Dane to make it 2-1.

He made it 2-2 late on (
Image:
Manchester Evening News Archive)

Despite a Roy Keane red card, after Jamie Redknapp felled Ryan Giggs in the Liverpool penalty area, it was only ever going to be Cantona to take the spot kick.

The rest is history...

4. Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 1999 (FA Cup)

Carragher dejected after the game (
Image:
Reuters)

Not since 1922 had the visitors beaten their rivals in the FA Cup. The long 77-year wait looked to be coming to an end but long before its colloquialism in the mainstream media, Fergie Time would strike again.

A noon kick-off, Michael Owen clearly caught the United defence napping as his second-minute header gave Liverpool the perfect start.

The England youngster was allowed a free-header in the six-yard box and he easily dispatched his 18th goal of the season.

Gary Neville celebrates victory after Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 in 1999 (
Image:
Mirrorpix)

The hosts pressed and pressed and it looked like it wasn't going to be their day. Roy Keane's header cannoned off the bar before former Red Devil Paul Ince cleared it off the line.

Fowler nearly scored a wonder-strike as his curling effort looked to have Schmeichel beaten but it sailed just wide of the post.

Keane hit the woodwork again after a string of United chances but it took until the 88th-minute for them to finally get a breakthrough.

David Beckham's whipped free-kick found Andy Cole who, as he did so often, teed up Dwight Yorke who couldn't miss from a couple of yards out as he bundled home.

Yorke was on the scoresheet (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Ferguson, animated as ever on the touchline, smelt blood and super sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as he would do so often, crept up in the second minute of stoppage time to net the winner.

It would be the catalyst for late United turnarounds and they would famously go on to clinch the Treble. How did that Champions League final end again?

3. Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool 2014 (Premier League)

The Reds celebrate their first goal (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

This game will be remembered for one thing. Penalties. Rarer than an albino snow leopard, Liverpool were awarded not one, not two, but three actual real life penalties at Old Trafford.

No team has ever come close to the amount of spot-kicks the Reds have been given at the home of their rivals in the Premier League era - seven to be precise.

That's five more than any other team. And this game had almost half of them.

Vidic has another game to forget (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

The 2013/14 season was the one where Liverpool should have really won the title. We needn't remind you about how it all ended because no one will forget anytime soon, not least Steven Gerrard who made his mark on this game.

It was seen as the biggest test of their title credentials since their last crown in 1990, and their dynamic front three of Sturridge, Suarez and Sterling were in blistering form.

The Reds, wearing white, dominated and Gerrard netted his first penalty 10-minutes before half-time after Rafael handled in the box.

Gerrard scored two and missed one penalty (
Image:
Liverpool FC)

They were awarded a second just after the break when Phil Jones bundled Joe Allen to the ground with the Liverpool skipper stepping up to make it 2-0.

It should have been three but Stevie G fluffed his lines for the third penalty after Nemanja Vidic saw red for a challenge on Daniel Sturridge with the Serb receiving his marching orders for his remonstrations.

Suarez did add the third towards the end after he was denied brilliantly by De Gea just moments before.

2. Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool 2010 (Premier League)

Berbatov was on fire that day (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Despite his evident brilliance, there were a few people who quaffed at the £30million price-tag of Dimitar Berbatov.

Ask any United fan, they'll tell you it was worth it for this performance alone when his hat-trick, including that overhead kick, saw off Liverpool in this epic encounter.

The Bulgarian hitman opened the scoring just before the interval, adding further woes to Roy Hodgson's shaky start at Anfield.

Ryan Giggs' whipped corner landed on the head of the United number nine, who cushioned the ball past the hapless Pepe Reina.

Gerrard equalised (
Image:
Liverpool FC)

And things would worsen for the Reds after the break, and with the half-time oranges barely digested, Berbatov produced a bit of individual brilliance to make it 2-0.

His control from Luis Nani's cross was deft, before swiveling and producing a stunning overhead kick which cannoned off the bar past the rooted keeper.

Steven Gerrard gave the Reds a lifeline after Jonny Evans fouled Fernando Torres in the box with the skipper dispatching another penalty.

Dimitar Berbatov scores Manchester United's second goal during the Premier League match against Liverpool at Old Trafford on September 19, 2010 (
Image:
Alex Livesey/Getty)

And the turnaround was complete in just six-minutes when Gerrard's smart free-kick evaded Edwin Van der Saar before he sprinted to the camera to plant an infamous kiss.

But it wasn't to be as Berba's glancing header made sure all three points stayed in Manchester and condemned their rivals to 16th in the table.

1. Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool 2009 (Premier League)

Fernando Torres terrorises Nemanja Vidic and scores twice in a 4-1 Liverpool win at Old Trafford in 2009 (
Image:
Getty)

A result Jose Mourinho's side will be hoping to avoid at all costs on Saturday as Liverpool ran rampant at Old Trafford.

It was arguably the most complete performance of the modern era from the Reds who tore the hosts apart on a famous day for the club.

United looked to stretch their lead at the top of the table, and they appeared on course to do so when Cristiano Ronaldo gave them the lead from the spot (yes, another penalty) after Ji-Sung Park was fouled by Reina.

Gerrard scores his team's second goal (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

This game will be forever remembered for the performance of Fernando Torres and the nightmares it likely produced for Nemanja Vidic, who had a day to forget.

And it was the Spaniard who levelled after pinching the ball from the feet of the defender, muscling him off and slotting it home.

You'll never guess what happened next...another Liverpool penalty. Gerrard was tripped by Evra in the box before the skipper made it 2-1, running over to kiss the camera. There's a theme here.

Vidic's afternoon was compounded by a red card after pulling down Gerrard, just seconds after United had made all their subs.

The 4-1 win was a rout (
Image:
Reuters)

Fabio Aurelio rubbed salt in the wounds with a delectable free-kick from 25-yards out which left Van der Saar glued to the spot.

And an emptying Old Trafford barely saw them make it four when Andrea Dossena - remember him? - popped up in stoppage time to score the goal of the game with a delightful first time chip over the keeper.

A true Premier League classic...

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