The rivalry between the two clubs has been done to death on here and elsewhere over the past few years, but was there a definitve moment which changed the rivalry from good natured to downright nasty? Or was it more of a gradual evolution?
The rivalry between the two cities was supposedly kick-started by the building of the Manchester Ship Canal and the subsequent by-passing of Liverpool, but the football tribalism seems to be a more recent development.
It was well known in the '60s that some Liverpool players would go to Old Trafford to watch matches if they weren't playing themselves, likewise Man U players were sometimes seen at Anfield. Good natured bantering ensued.
Tommy Docherty mentions in his autobiog that after United had beaten Liverpool in the FA cup final of 1977, the United fans sang in support of Liverpool and wished them well in their EC final against Borussia Moenchengladbach the following Wednesday.
It's difficult to see a similar thing happening now. So what contributed to the change?
The rivalry between the two cities was supposedly kick-started by the building of the Manchester Ship Canal and the subsequent by-passing of Liverpool, but the football tribalism seems to be a more recent development.
It was well known in the '60s that some Liverpool players would go to Old Trafford to watch matches if they weren't playing themselves, likewise Man U players were sometimes seen at Anfield. Good natured bantering ensued.
Tommy Docherty mentions in his autobiog that after United had beaten Liverpool in the FA cup final of 1977, the United fans sang in support of Liverpool and wished them well in their EC final against Borussia Moenchengladbach the following Wednesday.
It's difficult to see a similar thing happening now. So what contributed to the change?
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