The four best Liverpool player performances at Manchester United

Arne Slot’s Reds will soon travel to Old Trafford in the first big game of a new era.

While Liverpool’s record at Manchester United isn’t great, the Reds’ victories have been eventful.

Here are some of the best past performances by Liverpool players at Manchester United that the current crop can aspire to.

Steven Gerrard - Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (2009)

In March 2009, Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool travelled to title rivals Manchester United in hope of reviving their title ambitions.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a spot kick, before Fernando Torres put Liverpool on level terms.

On the stroke of half-time, Steven Gerrard was felled by Patrice Evra in the box, resulting in the award of a penalty which was subsequently converted by the Liverpool captain.

In the second-half Gerrard was through on goal, before being hauled down by Nemanja Vidic, the Serbian was sent off and Fabio Aurelio converted the following free-kick.

After Dossena completed the rout, it was confirmed as United’s heaviest home defeat since losing to QPR in 1992.

Gerrard’s performance that day, like so often in his Liverpool career, was transformative, his composure to convert the penalty, too was phenomenal.

The penalty celebration, Gerrard kissing the badge and then the camera, is nothing short of iconic. That image, including the grey away kit, is an icon of the late-Rafa Benitez Liverpool era.

Mohamed Salah - Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool (2021)

Not many Liverpool players can boast an Old Trafford hat-trick on their CV, but Liverpool’s current No. 11 can.

In this game, Salah also continued his impressive scoring form by notching in his tenth successive game.

He helped exploit a vulnerable and vacillating United defence, ruthlessly executing Liverpool’s third, fourth and fifth goals.

Keita pulled the ball back for Salah to score his first with his weaker foot. Salah found space in the box to coolly finish his second at David de Gea’s near post.

The Egyptian then dinked the ball over de Gea’s leg to make it five.

Salah also set-up Liverpool’s first goal, sliding the ball through for Keita to tuck home.

Luis Suarez - Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (2014)

One stop on their exhilarating 2014 title challenge, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool and a prime Luis Suarez arrived at Old Trafford to face David Moyes’ beleaguered Red Devils.

Suarez got the party started on the half-hour mark as his chip was handled by Rafael in the Manchester United area, and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard converted from the penalty spot.

After Gerrard converted his second penalty, he then missed a third, denying the former skipper a second place on this list.

Daniel Sturridge placed Luis Suarez through for him to score with a flourishing left-footed finish past David de Gea.

This win gave credence to belief of Manchester United’s collapse since Alex Ferguson’s departure. It was made even more memorable by the travelling Kop holding aloft a banner that read: “David Moyes is a football genius.”

John Barnes - Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool (1990)

Back in the pre-Premier League era, John Barnes ran riot at Old Trafford against a relegation-threatened Manchester United.

Peter Beardsley fed the ball through for Barnes, who was in acres of space, to slot the ball under Jim Leighton in the United goal and break the deadlock.

Viv Anderson tripped Ian Rush inside the United box, allowing Barnes the chance to double his tally from twelve yards.

Barnes scored his twentieth goal of the season from the penalty spot, hitting the ball high to the goalkeeper’s right.

Liverpool went on to become league champions, winning what would eventually become their last league title for 30 years.