Manchester United 2 Liverpool 2 :

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Premier League - Sunday October 1, 1995;

Old Trafford, att: 34,934

Manchester United 2 Liverpool 2

Man Utd: P.Schmeichel, G.Neville, S.Bruce, G.Pallister, P.Neville (P.Scholes), N.Butt (D.Beckham), R.Keane, L.Sharpe, R.Giggs, E.Cantona, A.Cole.

Liverpool: D.James, J.McAteer, J.Scales, P.Babb, N.Ruddock, S.Harkness, S.McManaman, J.Redknapp, M.Thomas, I.Rush, R.Fowler.

Match Report: It had been eight long months since Eric Cantona had launched himself into the crowd at Crystal Palace and finally he was about to start playing football again.

We had had the punishments, from club, FA and the courts, we had had the community service, the new three year contract, the plethora of Nike adverts and we had heard about the seagulls following the trawler.

Now, at long last, it was back to football. Well, mainly back to football. I suppose we were all wondering if Eric was going to come back a changed man or if he was going to turn into the Hulk the first time Razor Ruddock turned his collar down.

The fixture computer, and the demands of Sky, had ensured that Cantona's comeback would not just be any old game. It was an Old Trafford meeting with Liverpool.

Both sides had suffered somewhat erratic starts to the season but the optimism inside the ground as kick off approached was tangible given the return to service of "King Eric".

It was a strange arena in which to return with the capacity only just raised to 35,000 as Old Trafford began the massive re-development which would turn it into the enormous stadium it is today.

The reduced stadium also meant that away supporters were being refused entry at this time so if Eric was going to punch another fan on this day it would have to be one of his own.

Eric got his first touch from the kick off but contented himself with a gentle pass back to Lee Sharpe before sauntering forward into his advanced position.

The opening passage of play was scrappy and ended with Liverpool's right wing back Jason McAteer being caught in possession approaching the halfway line and United suddenly snapped into action.

Nicky Butt swept a quick ball forward into Andy Cole who had the time and space to turn and find Cantona all alone in the space vacated by McAteer on the left wing.

With time to survey his options Cantona clipped a ball across the box apparently for Cole but which was actually behind the striker and dropping into the path of the onrushing Butt.

The midfielder produced an inspired first touch to lob the ball over Phil Babb and then flung himself into a mid air volley that scooped the ball over the advancing David James and into the net.

69 seconds had gone, United led and Old Trafford was in a frenzy.

United swept forward again and a move started by a fine Gary Neville pass saw Cole play in Butt with a nicely weighted ball but this time the youngster hesitated at the vital moment and James was able to block at his feet at the expense of a corner.

When the early storm spent itself, however, it was the visitors who emerged as the more controlled footballing side. United looked uncomfortable with Butt nominally on the right hand side and Lee Sharpe in the centre whereas Liverpool's wing backs began to find the time and space to get forward and ensure that their side had the upper hand in the midfield areas.

Steve McManaman was roaming cleverly and with purpose and, above all else, Jamie Redknapp was dictating play with his assured passing and movement.

It was Redknapp who put the first threat on the United goal with a rasping, angled drive from 25 yards that had Schmeichel diving desperately, and vainly, only to fly a yard or so wide of the post.

The home side were being starved of possession but were still able to threaten with the scraps they had. Cantona produced his first moment of real quality with an instant cushioned volley into the path of the surging Butt but again the chance was lost through hesitation with James out to block.

Liverpool's growing assurance was highlighted in a move that should have brought them an equaliser. Redknapp swept a superb first time ball out to Robbie Fowler moving to the left. Turning back inside cleverly the forward nutmegged a ponderous Steve Bruce before slanting a magnificent ball to the far post which took out not only the entire defence but the groping Schmeichel as well.

Lunging in at the far post Ian Rush could only manage a glancing contact with his shin and the ball skidded wide of the open goal. Going with his head would surely have been the better option.

This provided United with a clear warning of what the visitors were capable of but they seemed incapable of regaining the initiative.

The increasing confidence of Fowler was also a reason for genuine concern and soon afterwards the slippery forward was causing problems again.

McManaman was presented with the freedom of the left flank when Butt slipped in front of him and he came inside to clip a ball towards Fowler. The pass should have provided Bruce with a simple interception but the ball escaped him and Fowler was there in a flash to collect and turn for goal.

Bruce turned to offer resistance, Fowler went down as the defenders' arms made contact but no penalty was forthcoming.

It looked a very dubious decision at the time and would look more so later on when United were awarded a penalty of their own on the very same spot.

Suddenly United emerged from Liverpool's stranglehold to fashion a clear cut chance of their own.

Nicky Butt started the move from deep and Gary Neville's sweeping ball down the right flank found Cantona moving into space. The Frenchman looked square for the supporting Butt who slipped a first time ball into Cole, his first time flick found Giggs who cleverly stepped over the pass to completely release Lee Sharpe.

Sharpe was no more than twelve yards out and totally unmarked but the ball was on his right foot and his attempted finish into the bottom corner was weak and presented James with an easy save dropping to his left.

The visitors took immediate advantage of their reprieve. Redknapp produced another sublime ball through the inside left channel to release Fowler who went for goal from an unpromising angle and the ball disappeared in a blur over Schmeichel's right shoulder and inside the near post.

The shot had been like a bullet but the keeper would surely have saved had he not fatally anticipated a centre to be Fowler's intention.

Whatever the rights and wrongs the goal was no more than Liverpool deserved and certainly gave the half time scoreline a more realistic look.

Half Time: Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1

Alex Ferguson had seen enough in the first half to completely reorganise his team for the second. David Beckham came on in place of the goalscorer Butt and United lined up imitating Liverpool's wing back system.

Gary Neville moved into the centre of defence with his brother Phil and Lee Sharpe taking on the wing back roles.

Cantona produced a wicked centre from tight to the right corner flag that Cole couldn't quite get on the end of but the visitors remained largely in control of proceedings.

With the United defence under pressure and struggling to clear their lines Michael Thomas played a ball into Fowler that the striker flicked on beautifully for McManaman running into the box. The winger went down under pressure from Roy Keane but again no penalty was forthcoming.

This incident looked suspicious but nowhere near as good a shout as Fowler's earlier.

The visitors would not be mulling over this possible injustice for long, however. Thomas produced a fine ball for Fowler on the angle of the box and, having comprehensively shrugged Gary Neville to one side, the striker flipped a sweet finish over the advancing Schmeichel for his second goal of the afternoon.

Having taken the lead the visitors became less incisive with their possession and although they retained a good share of the play it was the home side who began to look the more dangerous.

Cantona had his first effort at goal after a clever link with Beckham but the shot flashed across goal and wide of the angle. Then United's talisman reacted brilliantly after challenging for a hopeful centre to unleash a ferocious volley that Liverpool were glad to see slam into Ruddock's ample backside.

Cantona combined with Beckham again who slipped in a promising ball for Cole but the striker was having to hold his run and although he poked the ball beyond James he was not able to keep it in by the goalline.

Liverpool were frustrating the home side with their control of the ball but they were no longer going beyond midfield and when Phil Neville produced a ferocious challenge to dispossess Thomas after a prolonged spell of keep ball United were able to counter immediately.

The ball broke kindly for Cantona in space and, having made ground through the middle, his pass looked to have sent Giggs in on goal.

Redknapp lunged in from behind to challenge and Giggs went down. This time the referee, David Elleray, was happy to point to the spot.

This certainly seemed only as much a penalty as the one denied Robbie Fowler in the first half.

No matter, the decision provided Cantona with the perfect stage to announce his comeback and he was suitably composed as he slipped the ball into the net with James diving forlornly the wrong way.

For one moment it looked as though Cantona was heading for the crowd for the second game in succession, albeit eight months apart and for totally different reasons, but in the end he contented himself with a spot of pole dancing on the stantion holding the netting in place behind the goal.

The impetus was now firmly with United for the first time since the opening minute and they pressed hard for a winner, almost conjuring a goal of the century contender in the process.

Gary Neville stepped forward from the back to start the move which was carried on by brother Phil who played a simple ball into Beckham.

From here the pace quickened. Beckham skimmed a low ball forward towards Cantona on the edge of the box but instead of collecting the Frenchman dummied the pass and turned into the box to collect the instant lay off Ryan Giggs then cushioned into his path.

There was half a shooting opportunity but Cantona chose to dink a little chip across the box instead where Cole launched himself into a magnificent overhead effort that flew fractionally wide of the post with James rooted to the spot.

Beckham then produced another dangerous ball for Cantona to chase but the comeback boy was blowing a bit by this stage and James was able to dash out and collect before he could get there.

The final action of the game saw Liverpool offered a set piece on the corner of the box after Beckham had clipped McManaman's heels and Redknapp sent in a shot for the far post while Schmeichel was still busily arranging his wall at the near.

The big Dane atoned for his earlier error by flinging himself across goal to palm the ball to safety and ensure that honours remained equal.

Despite all the hype surrounding Cantona's comeback it had been the youngsters of Liverpool who looked a better bet for the future on this occasion, as they did a couple of months later when comprehensively winning the return fixture at Anfield.

Somewhere along the line, however, the progress of Liverpool's young guns would stall while the likes of Gary Neville, Scholes, Beckham and Giggs developed into a team that would dominate English football for the rest of the decade.

It would take Cantona a little longer to rediscover his best form but he would be instrumental as United eventually set about overhauling Newcastle United in the race for that seasons' Premier League title, cementing his place in Old Trafford folklore into the bargain.

Full Time: Manchester United 2 Liverpool 2

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