Gary Neville has taken time to explain what it was like playing in matches between Manchester United and Liverpool when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
Over the years, there’s been plenty of epic clashes between ourselves and our most hated rivals in the Premier League era.
On Saturday, we meet for the first time this season, having played out two draws last term: a 0-0 at Anfield and a 1-1 at Old Trafford.
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Jose Mourinho is certain to park the bus away from home, so we imagine it’s going to be an attritional derby – not one necessarily fought at breakneck pace.
But under Ferguson, when referees gave less yellows and reds, United’s visits to Anfield were ferocious affairs.
Neville takes up the story…
“Sir Alex was always different around the big games,” Neville said, reported in the Echo.
“People talk about the hairdryer and it never happened that much to be honest with you during a season, but the most consistent place you would see it was Anfield – at half-time or the end of the game.
“He could not stand losing at Anfield – and if we won there, it didn’t matter how we played – it was like the best thing in the world.
“The worst I’ve ever seen him consistently was at Anfield if we were losing at half-time or at the end of the game.
“He’d sit there unmoved in the dressing room at the end of the game while everyone was getting showered for 25 minutes. Just not moving.
“Once when I was a kid, just travelling, I remember him having a massive row with Schmeichel and Ince in the changing room. It was unbelievable, just proper going for each other.
“We always knew as well that Liverpool could hear everything that was being said, probably laughing on the other side of the wall.”
Liverpool have won just one game in six and are in desperate need of a victory to catapult our season.
We’ve played pretty well all term, but have thrown points away through dire defending and rubbish finishing in equal measure.
Against United, we’re up against a defence which has conceded two league goals all season and an attack which has plundered 21.
As a result, we need Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren to contain Romelu Lukaku and the likes of Sadio Mane, Coutinho, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino to take any chance that comes their way.
We don’t think there’ll be many goals in it, so it’ll be about being clinical at the right moment.