Liverpool v Manchester United 04/04/1988

The original Match of the Day highlights of Liverpool v Manchester United at Anfield in April 1988.
Thanks to Dave Chantry for this video.
If you want to see more, a longer version of the highlights, from the ESPN Classics series, is here:
• Liverpool 3 Manchester...

[@madlfcdc5890]

The two biggest clubs in English football. The two most successful clubs in English football. No matter who is the best team in the land at any given time, there is no other game like this. The history, the atmosphere and the rivalry can't be beaten.

[@supafly8558]

So very true

[@cHeVaLiEr2]

They are worldwide rivalries against each other BUT other gane like this we have such as the comeback of LFC vs Barcelona etc etc

[@mrkipling2201]

Agreed. Unfortunately the dilution of football nowadays has affected the rivalry. It’s all rather forced and too nicely nicely in my opinion. Where’s the proper rivalry and atmosphere?? Modern football is too clean and robotic I’m afraid.

[@benbirch1497]

2 plastic clubs. Grounds packed with more daytrippers than Disney world.

[@Adam-pu6jg]

But united were tied for 4th in terms of titles won at this point (Liverpool - 16 going on 17, Everton - 9, Arsenal - 8, Man Utd - 7, Villa - 7)

[@Sam-jy5tj]

Seemed like a much more normal game in those days .. regular guys who just happen to be fantastic footballers. You’d still see them at the local after the game.

[@DavidSmith-fs5qj]

I remmember going into the St George hotel in Liverpool city centre in the early 1980s(the St George was where the team used to stay before home games). One day as i was walking up to the main lounge Kenny Dalglish was walking down, on another occasion Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson, and on another occasion i talked to the great Ray Clemmence(after he had signed for Spurs). These days, you wouldnt get anywhere near them.

[@GoGetYourShinebox]

They were more blue collar types back then. Now youngsters get paid way too much, start acting all entitled & spoiled

[@edmundpower1250]

@@DavidSmith-fs5qj What a feeling that was. I remember meeting Alan Hansen after this game at St George or Moat House and asking him why can't we beat United?

[@DavidSmith-fs5qj]

@@edmundpower1250 Yes Edmund, an incredible feeling, like i say, you wouldnt get anywhere near them these days. United did have a good record against us in those days, the thing is they would beat us at Anfield, and then the following week they would lose to QPR at Old Trafford. Another acheivement which rarely gets mentioned, is Liverpools recored of competing in the European Cup year after year. In those days, this meat either winning the European Cup or winning your domestic league. When you consider Arsene Wenger proclaiming that Arsenals record of making it into the top four every year was a massive acheivement, it does put it into perspective.

[@edmundpower1250]

@@DavidSmith-fs5qj Yes David you're so right. And United would not have won that treble as they finished second the year before. By the way it's a well known fact that Liverpool had the opportunity to be the first English team to win tat treble 'properly' in 1977 only that same United(different team of course😅) beat us in the FA Cup Final. What nobody realises is and it was missed on the day is that Jimmy Greenhoff punched the ball off his chest into the net. We were robbed. VAR wasn't around when we needed it. That result and injustice still haunts me

[@MathewSimon119]

One of the most memorable matches I've seen as a Liverpool fan in the best season I've witnessed. We smashed the title that year.

[@BEASTALMIGHTY88]

Here man stop with the spoilers

[@simonpearn479]

I was also at this game Matthew! And as you say we romped to the title that year losing only 2 matches against Everton & Notts Forest both away!

[@mrkipling2201]

I was at the game and although we finished 2nd we were never in a title race. Liverpool were just too good that season. They didn’t beat us though that season!! That’s something I suppose!!

[@Midge-xn9tp]

Jimmy Hill summarising in 2 minutes, these days you get at least 2 clowns banging on for 10 minutes between each game, how has football created so many jobs for the boys

[@robertboyle2573]

I don't think people appreciated him back then, he had a huge knowledge of the game.

[@derekharrison1582]

Agree.There are FAR TOO MANY piss poor pundits around today.If I record a match I skip through all the waffle at the end and go onto the next match.

[@Midge-xn9tp]

@@derekharrison1582 Hansen was pretty good when he was on, but the rest are awful, Shearer is very annoying, Murphy just says the same shit every week, Jenas isn't too bad but apart from that, it spoils MOTD

[@paulmichaeljarvis6863]

I remember watching this on match of the day with my school friends I’ll never forget Strachan’s celebration and the Liverpool fan in the background was priceless

[@johnmccormick1648]

As good as it is now will never compare with these days and these players. Meant a lot more. Goosebumps just watching and recalling. United fan but always respected Liverpool as rivals.

[@MegaChabrol]

This was a great liverpool team, Barnes was so exciting, still my favourite Liverpool player

[@yippyialeftside8351]

great game, incredible atmosphere that kop is so packed just explodes if this is not football at its best then I don't know what is im a Brighton fan just love all these vids

[@scherben8870]

@distantvoices Definitely one of my favourite matches; but the season was a nightmare, as we were light years behind you; way further than even nine points suggested.

[@DaveWallerLFC]

What do you mean no boot room? The physical room was demolished when Souness was in charge, and the likes of Moran, Evans, Saunders etc were still actively involved at this point.

[@DavidB-py8nz]

@@seltaeb3302 What are you on about? for a start the bootroom was still going up until souness came in. This 87/88 team is one of the finest liverpool sides of all time.

[@Paulco67]

Thanks Dave for posting all these Liverpool games. Fantastic memories

[@sunnyxdays1036]

This Liverpool team best team of the 80s for me .

[@lazylad8544]

Was at this game in the kop. A very different era from nowadays. We always struggled to beat united for some reasons. Had a few scoops after the game so all was good👍

[@edmundpower1250]

I was at it too. I think complacency crept in when we went 3-1 up and then they went down to 10 men. It sometimes backfires having a man extra

[@brianhart945]

I was at that game in the away end what a day

[@kanifuker721]

What a cracking game especially for us neutrals. Great goals, no diving, cheating, play acting or going off after a tackle. The referee had a great game and let the play flow which is a big thing you don't see in todays football due to the bloody cheating going on. Cheers for upload, a real treat and gem of a game. McMahon was a great midfielder, didn't lose many 50/50 balls.

[@johnlowe9826]

The ref had a great game?? Didn't so much as speak to McMahon when he put his studs into the thigh of United's #6 but booked Norman Whiteside for clipping McMahon slightly late & gave 2 cautions to United's #3 for lesser offences than that!! Then lets Spackman off scott free after he hacked Whiteside down late No wonder my dad used to complain about Liverpool getting all the decisions their way at Anfield

[@kanifuker721]

@@johnlowe9826 Like i said......Ref had a great game and John Lowe was a miles better Dart player than a replier to You Tube comments.

[@edmundpower1250]

@@kanifuker721 🤣🤣🤣reply off the season... He should stick to the darts😂😂😂

[@ciansheridan7689]

Great upload again Dave Waller.YNWA.Raw atmosphere 👏

[@73reider]

Arguably Liverpool`s best team of the 1980`s, I am United but the Beardsley, Barnes, Aldridge, Houghton, McMahon side was unstoppable.

[@justthetruth1]

Ronnie Whelan too

[@DaveWallerLFC]

Liverpool's greatest teams are generally said to be 78/79 and 87/88 (maybe 19/20 now). I don't think 78/79 can be called the best team of the 80s! None of Paisley's early 80s teams got anywhere near the 90 points (from 40 games) that the 87/88 team did.

[@lyndonjames9178]

The Liverpool team that won the European Cup in the late 70's. 2 season's in a row, plus league titles has to be at the top or top 3 of great Liverpool sides

[@sharpleven9986]

@@DaveWallerLFC 1977 side was denied a treble from fa cup defeat from united Also in 1978 they won the European cup back to back

[@DaveWallerLFC]

@Sharp Leven - thanks for the history lesson. I did actually know all that. Terry McDermott played in those teams and said the 78/89 team (record points total, 85 league goals scored, 16 conceded) was the best he played in.

[@edmundpower1250]

Was at this what a game. every Liverpool /man Utd game in the 6 years before this match home or away was either 1-0 ,1-1 or 0-0 then this happened. Thanks Dave for upload

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Except for the 2-1 League Cup game in 1985, the Molby belter.

[@edmundpower1250]

@@lyndoncmp5751sorry I was referring to league games. But yes that league Cup game was a great win

[@karlerasure]

Sept 1990 liverpool beat Utd 4-0. Beardsley hat trick.

[@edmundpower1250]

@@karlerasure That was AFTER this game

[@mrkipling2201]

@@edmundpower1250 I think the best game before this in league and cup was the 1985 cup semi final at Goodison.

[@GregzVR]

A memorable match on my birthday.

[@shookreeseeree4]

Looks like from now on..I have to watch past matches.. especially during Liv glorious seasons..those days not every match was on tv..n I was schooling..so many matches I missed..

[@himalayanmountaingoat6758]

Went to this game solo as a 14 yr old , wagged school to get my ticket , first away game at Anfield

[@edmundpower1250]

Wow you lucky guy

[@GoodChemistry]

Great memories! Some quality football there. Seems so strange now watching a goalkeeper pick the ball up from a back pass though!!

[@WarmasAsunnedcat]

Real football if only we could go back. The two teams who have dominated English football.

[@mrkipling2201]

McClair was brilliant for us that season. We had finally found a 20 goal a season striker. Yet he never really had a campaign like that again. He was still great but I think the return of Hughes meant that he wasn’t the main man up front anymore.

[@jimfish1595]

Great to see players riding every tackle , staying on their feet and then driving forward onto goal. These days McMahon would have taken a dive instead of going forwards and unleashing that wonder goal.

[@leejones3061]

The rules have made it impossible to tackle like the 80s

[@MrZodiac666]

The Good old Days ⚽️

[@ceaserborn1739]

To come back from 3-1 deficit and a men down at Anfield against that kind of hostile atmosphere, these Man United players were truly superheroes. Even as a Liverpool fan, I admire the fight back spirit those Man United players had. This type of matches created a mental block on Liverpool players and fans and it became more and more difficult for Liverpool to beat Man United in the 90's.

[@DavidSmith-fs5qj]

I dont know that it created a mental block, for instance, would we swap the success we enjoyed over Everton, to have success agaisnt United? I remmember when Nottingham Forest enjoyed a similar level of success over us under Brian Clough, wether it was in the league, FA or league cup, we would play them off the park time and again, then, they would have one chance, and score. Kenny and Phil Neal wrote about their experiences in these matches, i think it was Phil who wrote, "i dont believe that any of us had a mental block whenever we played, but no matter how well we played, how much possession we had and how many chances we created, they always seemed to get a result against us".

[@mrkipling2201]

Whiteside changed the game for us when he came on. Especially when we went down to 10 men. Gave us more steel in midfield. I was there that day. Talk about high to low to high again!! Probably the first Fergie comeback!!

[@hikingwiththeshackletons]

This was the season of the famous Wimbledon FA cup win.

[@joebryant5722]

Hillsborough and Dalglish's departure 12 months/2 and half years after this game played a major part in the beginning of Liverpool's decline. He knew the work involved in rebuilding again. The pressure of Hillsborough destroyed him and damaged the club in the few years before the Premier league.

[@edmundpower1250]

It was a new era. It was the turn of a decade. Out with the old in football and in Eastern Europe and in with the new.

[@johnconstantine4341]

Love yer vids dave

[@YA-hm5zy]

Just a couple of years later and Souness absolutely destroyed this team and club.

[@MikeOldManHeanue]

Classic. What great days!!

[@tomsilverstone]

Back when football was fun

[@chrishullah5000]

Has to be my favourite visit to Anfield. Totally outplayed until Whiteside came on and got stuck into McMahon, I wish we had that desire and commitment nowadays.

[@mrkipling2201]

Same here. I was there in the Anfield road end and when Strachan scored and pretended to smoke a cigar in front of the Kop, that was the best part of the game for me!! We finished 2nd that season but were never in a championship race. Liverpool were just too good. So far in front and ultimately finished 9 points clear. I didn’t think that we would have the next 2 seasons that we did though.

[@jackthelad15]

Ah the good ol days of match of the day ❤

[@thevirus7368]

As a United fan great game. Proper men, Proper tackles, Proper atmosphere. No moaning, banter, have a pint together after the game. I miss this. I also have to say as a manager and a human being Klopp is the best.

[@christopherandreou8002]

Great quality

[@mni5245]

A fine match. Proud of both teams. The feeling seeing goalkeeper handling the ball from bandpass, though.

[@kanifuker721]

Yes a rule that changed due to the European teams from Italy and Spain who would abuse that back pass rule when 1-0 and time waste.

[@edmundpower1250]

@@kanifuker721 I think it changed with the Premiership of 1992

[@mrkipling2201]

@@edmundpower1250 it certainly did.

[@kingseanp9267]

I’m saddened watching this knowing there’s an organic passion that is internecine between supporters and players which we will probably never see and experience again in our lifetime.

[@lucabrazzi8269]

After Beardsley scored I was waiting for var to check it

[@paulwwwynne]

Good game. Enjoyed that.

[@maestegboyo]

Great game!

[@mrstephenjacobs9015]

I was 16 in the kop end brilliant atmosphere Liverpool should have won but we always struggled against utd at Anfield

[@TommyBahama84]

The tackles thrown in here would have todays players crying on the floor 😂

[@salfordnick5336]

Remember fergies comments after, and daglishs comments too....my 4 year old speaks more sense....fergie never forget it. Come 2011, fergie says, my 4 year old granddaughter speaks more sense 😂😂 fair to daglish, he took it in good spirits.....he knew what fergie had remembered

[@videos4you289]

Come on you reds lets get the title this year

[@Charlie_Ses]

People were more alive back then

[@darren2514fv]

Easter Monday 1988 hence why this was highlights rather than live

[@Benson_FNF]

Wow, what a game. I didn't know Sharp was the sponsor of United since that early time.

[@mrkipling2201]

Sharp was United’s sponsor since the introduction of shirt sponsorship in 1983/84.

[@lucaschapman2188]

This was the year Liverpool lost to Wimbledon in the FA cup.I remember it well I lost a shit load of money 💰 on a bet down the bookies😢

[@seasiderover10]

I could watch McMahon all day long. The amount of late challenges he was involved in was hilarious!

[@red-pn8fk]

He got done and hid!!!!!!

[@EvanDaFish]

I was at that game as a fourteen year old lad.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

"McMahon on Robson, referee says play on", "Whiteside just catches McMahon and that's a booking"..........Here we are in 2022 and nothing has changed. VAR was introduced primarily to ensure Liverpool can win their 1st league in 30 years, ref gives Liverpool a penalty in the first 20 seconds of the 2019 CL final v Spurs , a few weeks ago ref reduces Arsenal to 10 men at Anfield, last week Liverpool awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace when it clearly wasn't and that was after a goal was given for Liverpool when Firminio was off side in the build up and WAS active in the move.................. As I said.......Some things NEVER change. Good old LiVARpool the darlings of Uefa, FA and the PL. 👍

[@DaveWallerLFC]

In the return game in 1987/88 a clear handball wasn't spotted immediately before Utd scored. Referees make mistakes. Love your description of a deliberate stamp by Whiteside on McMahon's ankle as "just catches"! On VAR, Liverpool got 97 points the year before it came in and 99 points the year it came in. If you think that's proof that VAR was brought in to ensure Liverpool won the title you're deluded. The red card for Arsenal at Anfield was absolutely clear cut - Jota was clean through when he was kicked in the stomach. Some decisions are debatable, but it goes both ways (eg most people thought the challenge by Kane on Robertson a few weeks ago was a red card but he got a yellow). This sort of one-eyed bias, where you only see the decisions that go in the direction that favours your conspiracy theory, is really tedious, particularly from someone calling themselves "neutral observer" (yeah, right). If you think football is corrupt in this way, why do you watch it?

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

@@DaveWallerLFC It's driving people away from the game. Liverpool have had more penalties than any other club since the PL began. Is that because they are attacking more than anyone else? I don't think so as 1 title in 30 years says otherwise!!! Palace fans were furious last week and what do LFC fans say in return? Well it evens itself up over a season........Yeh rite 🤔 ps. Ta for uploading the game btw. It was a belter 👍

[@DaveWallerLFC]

1 title in 30 years suggests that the systematic corruption you're claiming exists hasn't worked very well!

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

@@DaveWallerLFC Correct because they have been absolute Shyte .............Things were great during the 1980's while everything was going their way, but then all of a sudden the back pass rule was outlawed..............Q 30 barren years.........Change of law introducing VAR........Surprise Surprise, LFC win the League again...........Has the penny dropped yet?🤔

[@DaveWallerLFC]

Backpass rule made Liverpool shit the year before it came in (91/92 was as bad as 92/93). VAR made Liverpool brilliant the year before it came in (18/19 was as good as 19/20). Flawless logic there. Please take your nonsense conspiracy theories somewhere else.

[@ismith8053]

0:44 The lineups. Gary Ablett famous for being a Liverpool player AND then becoming rhyming slang for ecstacy tablets. Poor Gary, taken far far far too young. RIP : (

[@alanprior7650]

The balance of power was shifting from Liverpool to Manchester United because of the groundwork done by Atkinson and former Aberdeen boss Alec Ferguson coming in...the start of Liverpool's wilderness years til Benitez. 😞

[@musicbybackinnyc1]

McMahon foot up against Bryan robson .. referee says play on lol

[@chrismaddin8242]

When football was football.

[@speedbird737]

I think VAR should have checked Robson's goal for offside lol - Beardsley wasn't playing very well at the start

[@alanslevin8223]

Kenny Dalglish. Talk to the child, you'll get more sense out of her than you will out of him. Never a truer word spoken.

[@beatlebrian4404]

Ferguson "iam here to knock Liverpool off their fucking Perch" And he did! and now that united are no longer a threat, Man City are doing the same!

[@DaveWallerLFC]

Souness knocked Liverpool off their perch. Ferguson was just in a position to take advantage.

[@beatlebrian4404]

@@DaveWallerLFC Ferguson was just in a position to take advantage! Ferguson buit the team to do just that! he didn't inherit champion winning teams like Paisley and Dalglish! And he saw off all Liverpools managers that came after, until he retired.

[@DaveWallerLFC]

I wasn't really trying to play down his achievements, and maybe "in a position to take advantage" wasn't the best choice of words. But it is a fact that he didn't knock Liverpool off their perch. He didn't stop a great Liverpool team winning the title at the start of his time in charge. It would have been interesting to see a Paisley/Fagan/Dalglish Liverpool up against one of the teams Ferguson won the league with, but the timings didn't work like that. Liverpool were poor for most of his time in charge (at least once he started winning league titles), with promising teams under Evans, Houllier and Benitez not doing quite enough.

[@beatlebrian4404]

@@DaveWallerLFC Dave mate how could he knock Liverpool off their perch with the team he inherited? He had to build a team good enough, he said that was his aim, but of course it takes time to get a team to be champions, great managers build teams that keep on winning titles, Liverpool had there's and united had Ferguson, both teams fantastic to watch.

[@uwpartnersUK]

Several times players could have gone down under tackle and rolled like turds but no its contact sport that we all love let's play on

[@kojack7425]

Steve Nichol top player hat trick at Newcastle good fun.

[@memeguyTM]

Liverpool 40 odd thousand fans are noisier than Old Trafford. #fact

[@lordsummerisle3139]

Old Trafford in 1988 was far noisier than Old Trafford in 2022

[@MrBarrynicholas]

Mullets and short shorts, those were the days.

[@johnmc3862]

The Stringfellow days.

[@EricPollarrd]

What an atmosphere, not like today’s dumbed down society. Bet there were a few tear ups in the local pubs after 🥴

[@erictheking97]

Big Norm at his best😄

[@jackthelad15]

The golden age of football

[@lordsummerisle3139]

United loved playing at anfield in the 80s

[@4justo740]

20:34 Good Grief 🤨

[@karlerasure]

Utd was nearly relegated one season before.

[@cubecubesson6779]

3:52 Steve Mcmahon doing his Bruce Lee impression on Brian Robson the dirty so and so. Imagine one of todays crop getting up and just rubbing his thigh. Amazingly the ref waves play on😂

[@anthonychew9691]

No tattoos, no kissing the shirt, no holding yer hands up and looking up to the sky, no diving, no VAR.....what a fucking shit game!🤣

[@CianODonnell]

That heaving mass of fans at the beginning! A miracle the tradegy of the following year didnt happpen sooner.

[@edmondscott7444]

Whiteside awful stamp. Should be a red card.

[@jonnyhyperhigg5764]

Whiteside was garbage.... won nowt

[@rickycole4061]

Mcmahon AKA Steviie G YNWA

[@chrisbadby6515]

Bryan robson absolute class........ 3:08

[@swaldron5558]

By 1 yard tap in?!?!🤔

[@kanifuker721]

Don't support either team but McMahon was the midfield maestro in this match by a mile despite Robson's goals.

[@red-pn8fk]

@@kanifuker721 he was certainly the best at hide and seek when people stood up to him

[@simonpearn479]

31.03 WHAT??? Alex Ferguson saying about opposing teams getting done by referees at Anfield? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black how many times have the away team been 'done' by referees at Old Trafford then??? But good ole Kenny though saying you'll get more sense out of his baby daughter!!!

[@MaMu-fv8uo]

Norman, Norman, Norman, Norman, Norman, Norman, Norman! See you later McMahon.

[@platonic7272]

United were the better team.

[@shanklyreds]

No1 team in country liverpool fc,,,, United r shite😊😊😊😊😊

[@CraigCairney83]

Ah when it was a proper man’s game! Blokes you could relate too! Now it’s all spoiled whining entitled millionaires! Ugh!!

[@timward3912]

Munich being sung .absolutely disgusting.

[@robbieduffy9998]

As a liverpool fan..I concur..unfortunately you always get mindless idiots at most grounds.

[@buttyscott1]

I actually cheered when strachen equalized..and I'm a Liverpool fan..guess in those days we were so bored of winning we sometimes pull for the underdog..lol..very exciting game

[@madlfcdc5890]

Yes, uncalled for. Minority of idiots. We get the Hillborough and Juventus taunts and it's a smeer on the game we all have to live with. We fans are not all like this.