Beautiful game as we savour winning ugly

THE essential nature of Liverpool-United clashes dictates something: they should never produce one-sided hammerings.

No matter how wretchedly one or the other is playing, no matter what the respective league positions may be, honour and tradition ensures you are battling on an almost-level playing field at kick-off. Any winning margin of more than two goals is almost unheard of, and thus usually an anomaly that requires explanation.

Thus in 2003 we beat them 4-0, but only after the contest had been destroyed after a hundred seconds by a red card and penalty.