That first walk down the Old Trafford tunnel to represent Liverpool is an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m certain Arne Slot won’t either.
How the stadium seemed to grow the closer you got to the pitch is a real ‘Wow’ moment. It is a theatre. There is no other club ground like it in England for scale, the only comparable ground in Europe that I played in was Barcelona‘s Nou Camp.
The incredible size of Old Trafford, and the history of a Manchester United v Liverpool fixture, consumes you and gives context of the enormity of what you’re about to do.
All top players and managers have played in front of big crowds and are used to getting stick from opposition fans but it’s the vastness of the arena as you enter for kick-off that is unique in the Premier League.
Some personalities can’t wait to get started in that sort of environment, others are intimidated. As a manager, Slot will have to stay focused in order to deliver the right tactical messages but, believe me, only in the moment he steps out in front of 76,000 will he truly understand the magnitude of the occasion.
Danny Murphy scored three winning goals for Liverpool in matches against Manchester United
Walking down the tunnel at Old Trafford is certain to be an experience Arne Slot won’t forget
It was my dream as a Liverpool fan growing up in Chester to play in this fixture. I grew up understanding the rivalry. But even Slot and the overseas lads at Anfield will have noticed something different about the build-up this week.
You can’t fill up your car at the garage without people stopping you and talking about the match. The attention is more intense. So is the training.
Everyone is up for it. In my time, we had a Scouse core; Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard. Myself and Michael Owen grew up nearby. We knew what it meant.
I was usually relaxed about playing football but that first United away game in 1998 was different.
Preparations were kept as normal as possible, we always stayed overnight in a hotel close to Old Trafford and had our regular team meeting there before travelling in by coach.
I was 21 and had only made one start. I fully expected to be on the bench until the manager, Roy Evans, pulled me over and said Karl-Heinz Riedle had hurt his back so I was in.
It’s a different mindset to be starting, particularly against your arch rivals in the biggest stadium in the country, and facing the best team in Europe at that time.
Michael Owen was sent off and I ended up on my own up front against Gary Pallister. My adrenalin was in overdrive.
Murphy fulfilled a childhood dream by playing in the fixture and understood its magnitude
He also scored the only goal of the game on three occasions – in 2000, 2002 and 2004
We reached half-time 1-1 and I’d done all right. My blood was pumping so much it was only when I reached the dressing-room and sat down that the enormity of it all hit me.
I felt sick with all the emotion. I literally was sick! In the cubicle whilst I was vomiting, I heard the wise old coach Ronnie Moran shouting: ‘You all right, son? Come on, get yourself ready, we need you.’ We did end up with the draw despite having only 10 men.
Tactically, we regarded United as a unique challenge.
They were the benchmark under Sir Alex Ferguson. The quality they had was incredible; David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, later on Ruud van Nistelrooy.
We respected them of course, and another of our managers, Gerard Houllier, had a philosophy that brought us great success.
We played really narrow and compact which we didn’t against other teams. They had wonderful wide players, but we felt if they got crosses in we’d have numbers in the box to cope. Nobody was going to outmuscle Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz.
Gerard Houllier set his side up in a narrow and compact system in a bid to frustrate United
It often worked. I was fortunate to score the winning goals at Old Trafford three times (2000, 2002 and 2004, all 1-0!). I remember Fergie being interviewed, disgruntled by our pragmatic approach. It made us smile because that was exactly the plan. We didn’t want to go toe-to-toe.
Now the tables have turned.
Liverpool have the better squad. Mo Salah would get in an all-time Liverpool XI. He forms an exciting front three with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, and Slot has options off the bench, particularly Darwin Nunez who offers something different with his runs in behind.
It’ll be United having the team meetings working out how to restrict Liverpool. I actually think United have been more organised this season, even in defeat at Brighton. Playing two false nines with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo as holders has made them harder to break down.
This week is special for me given my Old Trafford history. I played golf on Thursday, and a United fan on the range looked at me and said: ‘I’m glad you’re not playing against us on Sunday!’
United have been more organised this season and will be plotting how to restrict Liverpool
Mohamed Salah would get in an all-time Liverpool XI after his countless heroics for the club
Rarely a week goes by without mentioning those games and it’s humbling, as it’s more than 20 years ago now.
One of the most surreal moments was being in Africa, and the Maasai warriors looking after the family tents recognised me and started asking about the goals against Manchester United! It’s probably what defined my Liverpool career.
It’s still a massive fixture around the globe. Someone will write themselves into the history books. I don’t know whether Slot yet knows the true significance of this fixture. He will when he walks down the tunnel a few minutes before kick-off this afternoon.
