Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United 1988-89

Only one goal scored, but this was a fantastic match. At times, the football was dazzling, particularly from John Barnes. Despite their dominance of English football in the 1980s, Liverpool's record against Manchester United was pretty poor - prior to this game, they had only beaten their arch-rivals once in 17 league meetings during that decade. Martin Tyler commentates.

[@lfcspectre4335]

John Barnes gliding down wing with ease with no worries. Unbelievable player

[@jamesalandixon]

John Barnes, what a player.

[@Rayk76]

I'm 44 a red all my life and for me john barnes is my fav all time lfc player

[@jacobforsberg8087]

I think John Barnes in his prime is the best Liverpool player ever.

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

In his prime, possibly the best in the entire world.

[@lfcmoz8]

In all my 40yrs of watching the Reds this was probably one of the greatest games i ever saw them play,god knows why it was only 1-0 we absolutely battered them for the whole 90+mins and the pace of the game was unbelievable.

[@swkenny]

Late 80's Liverpool were breathtaking. One of the best club teams of all time and so good to watch. Well ahead of their time no doubt about it.

[@PhatTok]

My goodness, John Barnes, what a player and what a privilege to watch during his heyday. He was a diamond in an era when British football had no equal. I tell my kids about him.

[@cockywatchman1976]

Barnes was unreal 87-90

[@Kill--alllll---IDF]

Very very very true. I'm 41 now and my kids are now teenagers I always mention John Barnes from 87 to 1991 . Wasn't he world class

[@yingyang1008]

This Liverpool team were arguably one of the best of all time - I remember them completely destroying Nottingham Forest playing unbelievable stuff Such a shame they never got to test themselves in Europe - them against the AC MIlan of that epoc would have been something special The only dodgy player they had was Grobelaar in goal

[@BurnsTennis]

You saw the save against Viv Anderson in this match. Grobelaar was a great keeper. You don't make 600 plus appearances if you are not a great keeper. People remember the dodgy moments but there were far more great moments than dodgy moments.

[@alanmansell9845]

Your right there , didn't do too badly with a corrupt keeper did they !

[@thelstanedwardsson4374]

Their own moronic fans' fault that they didn't get to test themselves in Europe - the same fault of the same morons that denied Tottenham three UEFA Cup entries, Everton and Arsenal European Cup attempts and other clubs, particularly smaller ones like Coventry, Wimbledon and Oxford a crack at Europe.

[@ashleymoor4004]

Best winger in the world between 87 -90 unreal

[@mcghee76]

Good old fashioned game of football. Good atmosphere with no tourist fans with their half and half scarves/tops. Football isn't the same now.

[@Ceztallica76]

I was at this game. Never seen a tempo like it! Fast & furious throughout! Although the crowd was a very hostile one. Most intimidating coming out of Anfield.

[@nopunintended9122]

John Barnes was spectacular

[@sandwichbill4533]

This was my first Liverpool match on the Kop. Liverpool were dominant and should’ve had more. I remember people saying on the kop how lucky United were to keep more goals out. Viv Anderson was just fouling all game. Should’ve been sent off. Dalglish and Ferguson had a barny after the game. Dalglish had his recently born son with him and told the press they may as well talk to his son, because they’d get more sense out of him!

[@robicenco1701]

There are at least three separate games that are claimed for this incident. I'm pretty sure it can't have been this one though.

[@anthonydry5265]

Back in time when Martin Tyler was unbiased!

[@David_7171]

This was my favourite team of all time! I was just mesmerised watching them as a kid

[@stephendonovan5056]

How has the game become quicker? This was at full pelt for 90 minutes.

[@stephen-truthseeker]

Yeah this is far better football than today's crap

[@zaidabraham7310]

Better fitness training and diet plans. Players have more stamina. During this period (according to John Barnes), players would eat at KFC before matches.

[@zaidabraham7310]

@@stephen-truthseeker Only Liverpool played as well as this back then. Other teams launched the ball aimlessly up the pitch at every opportunity.

[@stephen-truthseeker]

@@zaidabraham7310 I was at this game. And the skill level speed and strength of the Liverpool players is far better than any thing of today.

[@zaidabraham7310]

@@stephen-truthseeker Nostalgia is very powerful. People always think that the past is better. I watched a Bill Shankly interview from the 70's and he complained that the players from his playing days (the 1930's) were superior. Also it does not make sense. Advancements in sports science and meticulous attention to detail (when it comes to training and diet) has to mean that modern football players are faster, stronger and have higher stamina. John Barnes even admitted that before Graemme Souness became manager, it wasn't uncommon for players to be eating crap like KFC before a match.

[@gunnyakdo1653]

what an intense game, at 5:33 you hardly see this today that the ref restrained an agitated player with his own hands and the ref was totally right to do it

[@scherben8870]

John Barnes was a pain in our arse on too many occasions. Wish we'd have signed him in 1987, instead of your lot.

[@davidreed1995]

Stuff shit

[@erniescullion8452]

Im Liverpool fan but i understand your point.😁

[@simondelaney6483]

Gertie kept faith with jesper Olsen instead

[@scherben8870]

@@simondelaney6483 Then blamed the chief scout.

[@kroon275]

Yous got a few good players too 👍 None as good as Barnes tho 😉

[@mattcolley643]

John Barnes was an absolute joy to watch on his day.would pay to watch.he destroyed the scum that day.and what a side Liverpool had in the late 80s.would most def won a European trophy.for sure

[@WipeOut180]

Definitely not this particular season maybe earlier because the Dutchmen had arrived to Arrigo Sachi's A.C Milan around this time.

[@bigbadjohn07]

+matt colley but English clubs were banned for some reason......

[@craigharrison3932]

I remember when he came to Elland Road in the 90/91 season and for 45 minutes utterly destroyed Leeds kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp_ZdJpsn7hlrK8

[@Kill--alllll---IDF]

If Liverpool didn't get kicked out Europe 85 to 90 then Liverpool wudda won another 2 European cups easily..

[@vja1970]

Barnesy had a sweet left foot. And was one of the best players in the world in the late 80s and early 90's

[@danyoutube7491]

Great game all round, amazing play by Barnes, and I love that surge from Nicol at 7:03, what a run!

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

Yeah, he went from the left-back position to the centre-forward position in a few seconds.

[@MatteoSimeone22]

I remember watching this game as a kid, those days we could never beat United but this was the first win in a while.

[@stephen-truthseeker]

I was at this game I remember it we baterd the Mancs. we should of scored more goals.

[@scherben8870]

***** Paul McGrath has never been accused of rape. Blackmore had been accused in Bermuda the previous December; and yes, this was just after the tabloid story of Robbo being so drunk, he accidently went in the women's toilets, came out.

[@scherben8870]

***** Only Blackmore was accused. The only time in the 80s I can remember two players being accused together of rape, was Steve Moran and Mark Wright of Southampton in 1982. All the accusations were without foundation, of course.

[@scherben8870]

***** I'd expect the Kop to take advantage of that sort of publicity; the same way I'd have expected the Stretty and United Road to if it had happened to Liverpool. :)

[@martinodoni8943]

7m10s - Viv Anderson would have got a straight red card for that today. He then pulls back Barnes about 45 seconds later (video time), which would probably be the same.

[@clarkbrechin7970]

Back when I think there was 1 game on a Sunday afternoon. Man of the match won the 'Barclay's Bubbly'!

[@ashleymoor4004]

For me the best lfc team - beardsly barnes rush aldridge .... unreal

[@erniescullion8452]

Ronnie Whelan wasnt known for an aggressive or Dirty could look after himself and he couldve sorted out Robson make no mistake about it.Robson who i respect yet was wrong here.ok.

[@wesleysmith4923]

That’s when football was football

[@jamesmccarthy7228]

Breathtaking football. From both team's. What a game !!! Foottball nowaday's is lame compared to this masterclass non stop action !!!

[@ktxlld]

That was fantastic. Thanks.

[@MatteoSimeone22]

This Liverpool team were just the best I've ever seen. We should have won this game 4:0. But did so 2 years later...LOL

[@davidellis5312]

I was in the kop... as a young Man U fan! - my Danish relation had come to visit and got tickets without knowing what was what. He was happy and waved a danish flag when Molby scored the pen anyway. I couldn't wait for the final whistle, but have to say Liverpool were a different class, they were much fitter. Barnes was awesome as an individual but the whole Liverpool team were on top of their game.

[@jeanpierre.durrant]

Liverpool peppered the man utd goal. Barnes is a legend. YNWA

[@fredjackson9231]

Proper mans game back then . Players , fans, officials , all full bloodied , get stuck in type blokes

[@SDJames-lw2ig]

Good point from the commentator Martin Tyler, Shame Barnesy didnt perform to his unplayable best for England only a few months earlier at Euro 88...

[@Excecutioner147]

Nither did, Beardsley, Linerker, Waddle or any other England Player........England left Euro 88 without scoring a goal, Barnes gave the only bit of magic the team showed at that Euro vs Holland so making it sound like John Barnes under performed is a injustice to him and a big let off to the other equally poor players

[@josssmith]

Excecutioner147 Er they did score, against Holland and Soviet Union.

[@robicenco1701]

@@josssmith Indeed, and if anything it was Robson who gave the team their high point of Euro 88 with a typical barnstorming goal against the Netherlands. That gave us hope, for about half an hour....

[@BurnsTennis]

Watching Viv Anderson in the match is like watching James Millner against Manchester City. Klopp with one of his trusted "lieutenants". Millner lost his legs since 2019 and literally blocks off everyone who tries to get past him. Time for Millner to drop a level.

[@littlerascal4722]

John Barnes the magician..

[@MichaelChiklisCares]

Barnes a beast.

[@Beliasarius]

I don't think I saw this at the time. How the hell Liverpool only won that 1-0 should have been six or more with at least two reds for Utd. Utd were under siege for 90 minutes Barnes their tormentor in chief. As this game reminds us, Utd's "great record" against Liverpool in the '80s was based purely on turning the game into a physical slugfest. In playing terms, they were leagues apart. You can see Robson was well off the pace in that match, probably been on the booze the night before but Fergie played him anyway. In that form, he was more of a liability to everyone on the pitch not least to his own team.

[@paulsmith9301]

CthulhuRules absolute bollocks we played some good stuff against your lot, just watch the corresponding match this season 3-1, you hardly got a kick except a deflected goal.

[@paulsmith9301]

I admit you were 10 times better in this game tho, no problem.

[@swkenny]

100% mate! I remember the year before this game we battered them & led 3-1 & then they got a jammy deflection (Robson I think) & then scored another against the run of play to get an underserved draw. That fat overrated Irish cunt Whiteside came on & as you correctly said turned the game into a physical slugfest. They couldn't live with us on a footballing level & they knew it.

[@michaelharvey9468]

What a player John Barnes was. What a player viv Anderson wasn't. Robbed a living from the game. Not the only one mind.

[@eamonryan8738]

Do you have any other videos of united v liverpool anfield in the 80s, adrian?

[@eddiepower3876]

You don't want any this was Liverpool's first win over United at Anfield since 1979 ... unless you're a United fan??

[@eamonryan8738]

Am a united fan, yep'

[@anthonydry5265]

How Anderson stayed on the field us a mystery! Mind you it was a mans game back then!

[@danyoutube7491]

Aye it was ridiculous! He was dangerously late at times and cynically dragged Barnes down @7:57, when the usually placid Liverpool man gesticulated in frustration and disbelief at the referee's bizarre failure to adequately punish Anderson in this game. He didn't even give him a free kick!!!

[@vipss-50]

يونايتد حتى من زمان والحكام يغشون لك ياوضيع يابو الحكام الليفر زعيم انجلترا الاوحد اليونايتد دفع رباعي له من زمان ويبقى تحت الليفر 💪🏼

[@dettaworld3015]

Barnes best liverpool player ever

[@TheFamilesso]

I am still complaining about what happened @ 7:58...that's a red card.

[@robicenco1701]

Now, yes. In those days, things were different.

[@srdmedia2944]

@2:10 was a penalty

[@heathen5298]

Viv Anderson lucky not to see red that day.

[@michaelgarment4191]

Mancs battered again how the hell was that only one nil...what would Barnes be worth today Anderson is still going round in circles lol

[@masstransit2]

was at this game in the Kop and gave a sly fist pump when United scored, only to see an offside flag. Luckily only a small child noticed it This was the days of Liverpools tiny away section where United fans in the Kop trying to get transferred used to get hammered down the bottom right corner In truth it was a bad game but Barnes was the difference

[@swkenny]

Yeh bad game for your lot. Liverpool were unplayable on the day & one of the best teams in the world at the time, should of won this by 4 or 5 but you mancs were always jammy at Anfield, not these days though haha! Now it's always a bloodbath with you lot hanging on for grim death hoping to keep the score down..

[@williampalin-griffiths17]

1.12?

[@stejohnstone1]

think this was r first home game of the season, proper football, proper kits, proper atmosphere, 99% scousers and mancs not the diluted shit we have now. i remember some mancs being taken out of the kop and the plod walking them in front of the kop where they were accompanied by loads of loose change, mainly 1p's & 2p's, it was the 80's after all, so much better.

[@alancassell566]

Liverpool 84 86 88 were better teams than liverpool 2022....

[@Badders1977]

@millennials. This is hat football used to be like.

[@stephen-truthseeker]

Football just ment more to the fans players and everyone involved. Simple fact.

[@ramlimostar689]

If King Kenny did not step down from the Throne......Fergie would have gone long ago after witnessing his mancs got beaten....

[@nikreece6295]

I was 10 years old in 1988 when we won this game against the bitter mancs... I can remember also taunting the shit out of my man utd fan uncle afterwards... 🤣

[@mickshipton2651]

What do you base this assertion on as Liverpool didn't even win the league in 1988-9 finishing second with 78 points from 38 games (and this points total has been surpassed many times in 38 game Premier League seasons with Chelsea getting 95 points in 2004-5)? IMO the best Liverpool side ever was the one that won the League in 1978-9 (if three points for a win would have got 98 points from 42 games). (and statistically the Chelsea side of 2004-5 were the best team

[@jeremyslaney5644]

Mick Shipton Liverpool did finish second in the 1988-89 season, but with 76 points. They had the same number of points as the champions,Arsenal, and exactly the same goal difference (+37). It was owing to Arsenal scoring more goals than Liverpool did, which cost Liverpool 1st place

[@rommel3854]

Utd simply couldn't live with them. Hacking down players left right and centre , with Anderson and an aging Robson the main culprits.

[@grav20]

Referee Keith Hackett demonstrating why he was a vastly overrated official.

[@No-tt1cp]

JFT39!!! you can't leave it can you? Liverpool fans (rightly) did time for their involvement for Heysel (i was there....you probably weren't even born) - i don't know 1 Liverpudlian who doesn't believe we had some part in that awful night....so why the "JFT39"? they, correctly, got their justice - know go away little boy and don't bother me again

[@armbar]

#moyes in :D

[@mickshipton2651]

This was Liverpool's only league win against Manchester United at Anfield in the 1980s.

[@jeremyslaney5644]

Mick Shipton I have a feeling that Liverpool only defeated Man.Utd.once in the league at Old Trafford in the 1980s. I think that it occurred in April 1982,with Craig Johnston scoring the winner

[@robicenco1701]

@@jeremyslaney5644 Yep. They also beat United in the League Cup in 1983 and 1985, but apart from that United's record against them in the 1980s was phenomenal.

[@sib1930]

Yes cos it was their cup final and for Liverpool it was another game

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

They did win on Boxing Day of the 1979-80 season, and 4-0 in September 1990, and had 2-0 wins in April 1992 (to give the title to Leeds), March 1995 (helping to give the title to Blackburn) and December 1995. Their record was better in the 90s when the game was their cup final. Most of the 80s games (home or away) were draws.

[@eddiepower3876]

Aldridge the big coward wouldn't take the penalty no bottle

[@cockywatchman1976]

Eddie Power Nothing to do with that. Molby was a superior pen taker. If they both played and got one (very rare) Jan took it.

[@stephen-truthseeker]

@@cockywatchman1976 correct

[@stephen-truthseeker]

You don't know what your talking about

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

@@cockywatchman1976 Molby pen

[@hassanmonnan7526]

My nigga spackman really wanted a goal that day

[@Kill--alllll---IDF]

I was 10 yrs old in 1988 John barnes wow he was brilliant