Liverpool v Manchester United: Five Reds cup victories

But, while the two clubs had avoided each other in continental competition thus far in their illustrious histories, they have shared many a memorable cup clash domestically.

Here, we relive the five best from a Reds perspective...

League Cup final - March 26, 1983

Liverpool won the League Cup for a third season in a row when they defeated Ron Atkinson’s United 2-1 at Wembley.

A brilliant individual goal from Northern Ireland star Norman Whiteside opened the scoring for United after 12 minutes, but Alan Kennedy levelled proceedings with a rasping low drive.

Going into extra-time, Ronnie Whelan - the Reds' Wembley hero of the previous season - was at it again, curling home a delightful winner to clinch the cup.

Fittingly, in his last season in charge of the club, manager Bob Paisley led the team up the Wembley steps to pick up the trophy.

League Cup fourth round - November 26, 1985

Incredibly, going into this League Cup tie at Anfield, Liverpool hadn’t managed to record a victory over United since the 1983 Wembley success, and when Paul McGrath fired the away side into a seventh-minute lead things looked bleak.

However, cometh the hour, cometh the Great Dane, as Jan Molby equalised for the Reds with a goal that has gone down as one of the finest ever seen at Anfield. Picking up the ball in his own half, Molby beat three defenders before smashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner of the Kop net.

Minutes later, the midfielder converted a penalty, which turned out to be the winner.

League Cup final - March 2, 2003

Gerard Houllier guided the Reds to another win in Cardiff when Liverpool beat United 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

Steven Gerrard fired them into a 39th-minute lead with a deflected effort that gave Fabien Barthez absolutely no chance.

The cup was assured when 2001 hero Michael Owen collected Dietmar Hamann’s perfectly weighted pass before finishing in style.

Jerzy Dudek collected the Man of the Match award for a series of brilliant saves.

FA Cup fifth round - February 18, 2006

Liverpool advanced into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over United at Anfield.

Peter Crouch further enhanced his popularity on the Kop with the only goal of the game to give Rafael Benitez's men a deserved victory.

Steve Finnan’s inviting cross from the right was met by Crouch, who got goal side of Nemanja Vidic to power home a header into the back of the net.

With Hamann simply outstanding holding just in front of his back four, it was a sweet victory for the Reds en route to yet more glory in Cardiff.

FA Cup fourth round - January 28, 2012

Kenny Dalglish guided Liverpool to a dramatic victory over their rivals at Anfield as one of the most popular players to ever wear a red shirt, Dirk Kuyt, netted a late, late winner.

Having beaten Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final to reach Wembley just a few days earlier, hopes were high that King Kenny could inspire the Reds to another memorable victory.

Daniel Agger netted the opener but Ji-Sung Park levelled the tie just before half-time.

However, as an Old Trafford replay beckoned, Kuyt had other ideas. With two minutes remaining, Andy Carroll rose majestically to head the ball into the path of the Dutchman, who finished well in front of the Kop.

The joyous scenes at the end told their own story, and provided the icing on the cake in the form of two sweet victories over both the blue and red halves of Manchester in just a matter of days.