"I grew up an Everton fan, my whole family are Everton fans and I grew up hating Liverpool. And that hasn't changed."
-Wayne Rooney

A little football fanatic myself, grew up playing football in the nearby swamps during the late 80s and the early 90s, but sadly never moved on from there. The occasional world cups on TV were the only glimpse of football matches that were offered in those days. The cable network or Dish TVs were unimaginable at that time. A solo goal by a man with a little pony tail during the world cup in USA ‘94’ against Bulgaria was my first taste of football in the big screen. I grew up idolizing the Italian striker Roberto Baggio and since then supporting him. Then came the year 1998 when a little known 16 year old was creating havoc with his blistering pace tearing apart the defenses that went by the name Michale Owen. Same was the year of the umbrellas that introduced me to the channels. Finally, beyond local channels, I was introduced to the English premier league and eventually Liverpool Football Club. All thanks to Owen and his magical performance in the world cup. Then came a baby faced lad named Steven George Gerrard. His volley against the gunners made me fall in love with the club even more. It is not that there were no other players in the league that caught my eyes, but watching the reds play just clicked and I have not looked back since. Like any other Liverpool fan in the world, I watch the game between the reds and the red devils with much interest than the other fixtures. Perhaps very few would disagree when I say that it is the biggest game in the football calendar. Nothing was more painful than to see united lift the premier league title throughout the 90s, surpassing the record of the 18 league titles which was the final nail in the coffin. Both the clubs have witnessed the great performances of the gamers, to name a few who are worshiped as legends at their respective clubs, like David Beckham, Roy Kean, Ryne Giggs, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Owen, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard,

This is where the legends are made the mother of all rivalries. Liverpool FC vs. Manchester United, arguably are the greatest duels in the world of football and in the years to come. The derby of the North West neighbors is how I would like to put it that it has all love, hate, pride, passion and controversy that have taken football rivalries to a whole new level. It is still fresh in the memories, the spat between Patrice Eva and Luis Suarez, when the then Liverpool striker was accused for racially abusing the French defender, which he later accepted that was much talked about throughout the year 2011. This resulted in the striker being banned for 8 games and was fined an additional 40,000 pounds for his actions. The refusal to shake hands to the charge dominated the headlines and was much talked about throughout the year.
What started off as the battle of the ports found its way to the football pitch and has not looked back since. It is again time for that one game of the season either of the teams hates to lose. Separate by just the badge on the chest, it is much more than just a game not just for the players and coaches, there is something in it for the fans as well. That bragging rights till the end of the season, along with the love for their clubs, serves as an added motivation to follow the game between the two most successful clubs in British football history with 38 titles league titles between them. The two clubs are set to lock horns once again this Sunday at Anfield. With Champions League qualification at stake both teams would be going for a win. With a rejuvenated keeper between the sticks racking up clean sheets and unbeaten in the year 2015, the home side will be going all out to win to maintain the winning start to the year and at the same time would be looking out for revenge for the loss in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford. They will be hoping to leap frog the red devils with a win at home and have a little breathing space against the rest for themselves in the race for the final Champions league place, which looks like a four horse race with spurs and the saints not far behind. However, Van Gaal and his men will arrive at Anfield brimming with confidence after playing perhaps the best football of the season under LVG beating spurs with 3 unanswered goals along with the prospect of doing the double over the reds and gain valuable grounds against the home side after beating them in December. This fixture might decide the fate of the two clubs and the direction they would be heading rest of the season. A goal fest is not expected of this fixture with a tight defence on both sides. A goal from either side could decide the fate of the game. But, such is the hype and the intensity of the game one cannot discount that fact that there might be numbers of tackles flown in and cards flashed out. All eyes will once again be on Wayne Rooney, the golden boy form the other side that has publicly spoken his hatred towards the reds in the past. This might be dubbed as the battle of the young guns as it is not a hard kept secret about the preference of the youngster by both the managers. However, dumped out from the group stage of the Champions league and going out penalties to Basiktas in the European League and Chelsea, all but certain to win the league, Branden Rodgers and his men will be looking for a perfect send off for to be leaving soon Captain Steven Gerard who is in the final stages of his Liverpool career.