There is a quiet, subtle pleasure for Kopites whenever prominent voices down the M62 are forced to confront the stark reality of modern football.
For well over a decade, Liverpool fans have sat back and watched their side torment Manchester United, turning what used to be a nerve-shredding fixture into a regular display of Anfield dominance.
So when legendary former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes sat down with darts sensation and die-hard Red Devils fan Luke Littler on The Good, The Bad & The Football’s 'Cards on the Table' segment on YouTube, the inevitable question popped up: Which Liverpool player, past or present, would you take to Old Trafford?
What followed was a moment of banter, begrudging respect, and a telltale glimpse into why the gap between the two clubs remains so vast.
The Gerrard banter and the Van Dijk imperative
Given the decade of defensive drift and structural turmoil at Old Trafford post-Sir Alex Ferguson, you could probably draft a whole Liverpool squad that would walk into their starting lineup.
Facing the current reality under Michael Carrick where United have taken just five points from their opening five league games the defensive issues are glaring.
When asked if there was any Liverpool legend he wished played for United, Littler’s initial instinct was a stubborn "None". But Scholes immediately pointed to Liverpool’s towering skipper.
Before naming his pick, however, the former England midfielder couldn't resist throwing a playful dig across the rivalry divide at Steven Gerrard:
"I reckon people will be saying Gerrard, won’t they?" Scholes joked. "He’d have been a good sub for us, actually, wouldn’t he! I’m only joking, Steven, I’m joking. If we needed a player now, it would be Van Dijk. Or the keeper, I like the keeper [Alisson] as well. But apart from that, nobody."
For Kopites, seeing Virgil van Dijk selected as the ultimate quick-fix solution for Old Trafford comes as no surprise. The Dutchman remains the gold standard of Premier League centre-backs, boasting two Premier League titles.
With United currently leaning on Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and Matthijs de Ligt, Liverpool's rising defensive star Jeremy Jacquet let's be honest would practically stroll into their backline.
The Mo Salah factor: 18 goals, 16 assists, and years of Old Trafford misery
While Scholes initially focused on patching up United’s defensive line, 19-year-old darts superstar Littler brought up the man who spent nine years terrorising every left-back to set foot on Old Trafford.
"I think I’ll have to go with Salah," Littler admitted. "We’ve not been treated with right wingers, have we?"
Scholes instantly conceded the point:
"Yeah, I forgot about him, yeah," Scholes agreed. "He’s not bad, him, is he? We’ll have two Mo Salah and Van Dijk."
"Not bad" is quite the understatement. Before his summer move to Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor, Mohamed Salah produced a staggering record against Manchester United: 18 goals, 16 assists, and 7 victories across his 19 appearances against Liverpool's fiercest rival.
For almost a decade, Salah was the ultimate match-winner in big games with ruthless precision.
That dominance was captured forever on March 5, 2023, in the historic 7–0 drubbing at Anfield Manchester United’s heaviest competitive defeat in nearly a century.
On that unforgettable afternoon, Salah scored twice to become Liverpool’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer, thoroughly tormenting Erik ten Hag's defence alongside Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez in a relentless second-half blitz.
Even across their last five high-stakes encounters including a commanding 3–0 win for the Reds at Old Trafford in September 2024, a pulsating 2–2 draw in April 2024, a chaotic 4–3 FA Cup extra-time exit at Old Trafford in March 2024, and a tense 0–0 draw at Anfield in December 2023 Salah's presence was the constant threat.
A tale of two clubs: Standards vs patchwork
Rival admiration never happens by chance. When legendary ex-players and die-hard fans of Manchester United start openly praise and want Liverpool icons joining their club, it underlines a fundamental truth about where both institutions stand.
Liverpool built elite, structural pillars under Jürgen Klopp and now continue under Andoni Iraola's undefeated start to the campaign.
United, by contrast, have spent years attempting to patch chronic holes out wide and in central defense.
As Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday, October 11, 2026, before welcoming United to Anfield on November 22, 2026, the debate serves as a timely reminder: Liverpool produced heroes who set the standard for an entire era, while rivals were left wishing they could borrow them.
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