Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester United in the FA Cup are rare occurrences, but they are filled with drama when they do happen.

It is somewhat surprising that the two most successful clubs in English football don’t meet frequently in the FA Cup, considering their stature. Nevertheless, it’s a fact, and Sunday’s upcoming match will only be the fifth time they have faced each other in this prestigious cup competition since 2006.

Jan 24, 2021 – 4th Round – Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2

Not too long ago, the latest installment of this rivalry occurred, coinciding with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the match was held without spectators in attendance.

The scoring in that game began with Mohamed Salah finding the back of the net, but Manchester United turned the tables with goals from Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, taking the lead. However, Salah managed to equalize shortly before the hour mark. Ultimately, it was Bruno Fernandes who secured the victory for Manchester United with a goal in the 78th minute.

On that particular day, Liverpool’s Starting XI featured some well-known players such as Thiago, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner, and Roberto Firmino. Later in the game, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi were brought on as substitutes.

Jan 28, 2012 – 4th Round – Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1

It has been almost a decade since the last FA Cup encounter between these two football powerhouses.

In this particular match, Liverpool emerged victorious, thanks to a late 88th-minute goal scored by Dirk Kuyt. The scoring had begun with Daniel Agger finding the back of the net for Liverpool, but Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung responded with a solid equalizer.

This clash at Anfield served as a throwback to a different era, with players like Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Martin Kelly, and Jose Enrique featuring in Liverpool’s Starting XI. Key substitutions made by Liverpool included Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt. Carroll and the Dutchman combined to produce a superb goal that proved to be the winning strike, showcasing their quality and deserving of a match-winner.

Jan 9, 2011 – 3rd Round – Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0

Just a year prior to Kuyt’s memorable performance, Liverpool and Manchester United faced each other in the FA Cup 3rd Round at Old Trafford. The match was characterized by tension, as is often the case when these two teams meet, and very little set the two sides apart, as expected. Ryan Giggs scored a penalty in the 2nd minute, which ultimately proved to be the deciding factor in the match’s outcome.

Both managers fielded strong lineups featuring notable players such as Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dimitar Berbatov, Rio Ferdinand, and Dirk Kuyt, all of whom started the game.

Despite such star power on the field, the match failed to captivate as much as one would have hoped. It lacked the excitement and thrill that are typically associated with encounters between these two historic rivals.

Feb 18, 2006 – 5th Round – Liverpool 1 Manchester United 0

We have to go back five years earlier to witness another FA Cup encounter between Liverpool and Manchester United. This particular match took place at Anfield and had a spot in the Quarterfinals at stake.

The referee for the match was Howard Webb, who seemed to have a busy day as he handed out an astonishing seven yellow cards. Players like Ryan Giggs, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Dietmar Hamann, and Nemanja Vidic were among those cautioned. It was a fiercely contested clash that provided the 44,000+ spectators in attendance with a true Cup tie experience.

In the 20th minute, young Peter Crouch scored with a header, putting Rafa Benitez’s team ahead by skillfully getting the ball past Edwin van der Sar. Liverpool eventually went on to win the FA Cup in 2006, triumphing over West Ham United in the Final through a penalty shootout. However, it was the remarkable performances of a certain midfielder that will forever be remembered in their journey to the Final.

As we eagerly anticipate Sunday’s modern-day showdown, let’s hope that it delivers its own share of FA Cup magic and adds another memorable chapter to this historic rivalry.