1968 First Division Title Decider vs Liverpool

Lore & Background

The first meeting between the two teams occurred on 12 November 1881, when St. Mark's (West Gorton) – who would later become Manchester City – hosted Newton Heath LYR – who would later become Manchester United. The game finished 3–0 in favour of Newton Heath. The first Football League meeting came in the 1894–95 season, Newton Heath beating Manchester City 5–2 at Hyde Road. The first meeting at the highest level of English football occurred in December 1906, a 3–0 City win. In the 1970s, a tackle by United's George Best broke the leg of City's Glyn Pardoe. The return fixture on the penultimate day of the 1973–74 season saw former United player Denis Law back-heel the ball past goalkeeper Alex Stepney into the net for City; United supporters invaded the pitch and forced an abandonment, but the result stood.

In Their Own Story

Under the grey Manchester sky, the Maine Road pitch was a glistening slurry of mud and water, yet the Blues moved with balletic precision. The roar from the stands wasn't just sound; it was a physical force that seemed to vibrate through the soles of every player's boots. As the clock ticked toward full time, Mike Summerbee, drenched in sweat and turf, glanced sideways at Joe Mercer on the touchline. The manager stood stoic, but Malcolm Allison, trench coat flapping wildly in the damp wind, was already pumping his fist in triumph. A Liverpool forward lunged desperately for a loose ball, only to be coolly sidestepped by Francis Lee. Lee didn't just look; he scanned the scoreboard: 2-0. The tension snapped instantly, replaced by a rising crescendo of 'Blue Moon' that swelled from the terraces, turning the realization into a collective euphoria: the wait was over, and Manchester City were kings.

Reader's Guide

The teams have played 198 matches in all competitions; United winning 81, City 62 and the remaining 55 have been drawn. City play at the City of Manchester Stadium in Bradford, east Manchester, while United play at Old Trafford in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester; the two grounds are separated by approximately 4 miles (6.4 km).

Did You Know?

• The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889 at the Belle Vue Athletic Ground, with Wells electric lights.
• Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played for both United and City, can claim an unbeaten record in derby games.
• The first competitive floodlit derby was the 1956 FA Charity Shield match, played at Maine Road because Old Trafford had yet to install lights.