18 November 2023 , 07:15
500
0
Forget the Manchester derby, or the heated clashes against Arsenal, during Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United reign there was one rival that stood out from all the rest, and that was Liverpool.
The Merseyside outfit had long been the dominant force in English football when Ferguson first took the reins at Old Trafford, which prompted the Scot to make his now infamous vow to "knock Liverpool off their f****** perch" back in 1986. Anfield was often at its most vocal whenever Ferguson's United rolled into town and it was a similar story for the reverse fixtures.
Within the world of Liverpool, one former Reds star got under Ferguson's skin more than most and it only happened because the United legend accidentally overheard a joke made at his expense. Gary McAllister won a cup treble while a Liverpool player, but it was a comment made by him while he was at Leeds that earned him the cold shoulder from his fellow countryman.
McAllister spent six seasons at Elland Road and helped United's rivals win the first division in 1991/92 as they became the final champions of England before the inaugural Premier League season. After Leeds ran out 3-2 winners over Sheffield United, Liverpool had to beat United in the penultimate game of the season to help secure Leeds the title victory.
The Reds did exactly that, toppling United 2-0 and in turn, crowning Leeds champions. McAllister watched that United vs Liverpool clash at the home of team-mate Lee Chapman alongside Eric Cantona, David Batty and a television crew.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Overjoyed at the result, Leeds players started to celebrate while still McAllister was still wired to the television studio. One flippant comment made by the Scotsman would lead to a breakdown in his relationship with Ferguson for the next 20 years.
"We all went back to Chappy’s house after the game in Sheffield to watch Man U play Liverpool at Anfield," McAllister told fans in association with Sport & Fitness Middle East back in 2017. "Because I’d done some TV work, I was tuned in to the director at Anfield so I could hear the director and all his comments, talking to the presenter, talking to the cameramen.
Gary McAllister poked fun at Sir Alex Ferguson and was snubbed by the Scot for 20 years"I could hear everything which was going on in the studio. Liverpool win 2-0 and Leeds United win the league, we're p****d. After the game, we're watching the pictures coming across and the interviews after the game and I can hear in my ear the director saying, 'Get to the tunnel, we've got Fergie.'
"Milliseconds later he's up on the TV and Fergie comes on. His face is bright red. His first comments, as you can expect, were, 'I want to make it clear, Leeds haven't won the league. Manchester United have lost the league! I'm making it clear!'
"Nose very red, he says, 'Make no mistake, Leeds have not won the league! Manchester United have lost the league! We've thrown the league away.' So flippantly in Lee Chapman's living room, I say, 'Big red face as gracious as ever in defeat.'
"Then Dennis Law came back in my ear and said, 'Gary, Fergie can hear you.' Alex Ferguson has walked past me in Lithuanian airports and Albanian hotels for 20 years and never looked in my direction!"
However, the feud is no more, with the pair now on good terms after Ferguson reached out to McAllister following the death of his wife Denise in 2006. "This is the measure of the man. When you’re competing against him, you're the enemy, but when I went through this tragic experience with cancer, who was the first person to call me? Alex Ferguson," the Liverpool midfielder added.