It's been 58 years since Phil Chisnall became the last player to move directly between Liverpool and Manchester United. In the six decades since, only one player has come even close and Sir Alex Ferguson dug his heels in to ensure it wouldn't happen.
Such are the fiery relations between the two great rivals, business between them just isn't done, with the legendary Scot making sure that both Rafa Benitez and Gabriel Heinze knew such a fact back in 2007.
Reds fans won't shed a tear this. As good as United were at their peak under Ferguson, knocking Liverpool off their perch in the process, they were a side you loved to hate, littered with players you just couldn't stand. Why should their club be soiled be a player who has played for their most hated of rivals?
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Paul Ince would receive a lukewarm reception when moving to Anfield in 1997 as a result, having been a former United midfielder, while Michael Owen burnt all bridges with Kopites when signing for the Red Devils in 2009. But United have fallen a long way since those days of dominance before Ferguson’s retirement, with them now currently not even a mild irritation to Jurgen Klopp ’s side.
As a result, Liverpool fans may feel no particularly great feeling towards the majority of the players that currently play for the Red Devils, though admittedly are amused by their failings with United not even playing well enough for Kopites to take much notice of at present. But that doesn't mean the East Lancs divide is ready to be crossed.
Yet there is even one United player that Liverpool fans, dare I say it, actually like. And according to reports in the Manchester Evening News, Reds bosses appear to be a fan of his talents too.
Marcus Rashford has seemingly felt the chaos at Old Trafford more than most this season, with reports earlier this month suggesting that he could consider his future at the club should little change between now and the summer. Coming less than 24 hours after a heavy 4-1 derby defeat to Man City, United bosses were said to be rather unimpressed at the timing of such public discontent.
Yet in the weeks that have followed, the Manchester Evening News report that the 'phone hasn't stopped ringing' since the forward's Old Trafford future became the subject of question. They claim Barcelona have expressed interest in signing the 24-year-old, but curiously claim Liverpool are keen admirers of Rashford too.
Now the MEN admit it is highly unlikely that United would ever allow the forward to cross the divide if they ever did agree to sell the him, while the boyhood Red Devils fan might not even be open to a move to Anfield, should he depart Old Trafford, due to such allegiances. But given the abuse, threats and heckles he has had to deal with this season, which he spoke out against on social media after United's Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid, it's no wonder why he might be craving a fresh start at pastures new.
And as he faces up to the reality of another trophyless season, he could be forgiven for casting envious glances down the East Lancs Road at what Klopp has done with the players at his disposal.
Given his unique standing with Kopites, the prospect of a potential transfer to Anfield is less laughable compared to any other United player past or present. After all, he is one of the most-respected players in English football after his campaign for free school meals two years ago forced a government u-turn. And such efforts did not go unnoticed on Merseyside with Jurgen Klopp one of many to praise the forward at the time.
“I am not sure I can find any better words than much smarter people have said. But what Marcus has started there is absolutely incredible, it is so nice,” the German said. “And with all the rivalry between the clubs, in these moments we are as footballers and as human beings always united.
“It’s just nice to show in a time when obviously a lot of people who are really in charge of something don’t show any sign of proper leadership. He is a boy grown up in difficult circumstances and blessed with sensational talent, obviously. But he never forgot his roots and where he is coming from. It’s just a shame that he has to do it.
“It is a bit of a shame but it is wonderful as well. I hope his mother is really proud of him. I don’t know him but even I am proud of him. And he plays for United which makes it really tricky! I’ve heard about Liverpool and Manchester United (rivalry) years and years ago.
“But yes that just shows that football can be really wondrous in moments. It shows that the subject is really really serious and that is why everybody puts the rivalry aside and thinks about the more important things in life.
“So I am really happy that Liverpool can show this solidarity in these moments. Now he is a role model for that and it is truly great. It won’t distract him from his football things.”
Andy Robertson even echoed claims from some fans that Rashford could become the first United player to get a standing ovation from Liverpool supporters at Anfield as a result.
“The two words that everyone’s saying (during the pandemic) are ‘Marcus Rashford’,” the Scotland captain said in an interview with The Times. “He made politicians overturn the decision (not to extend free school meals) because he wanted every kid to get fed.
“What he’s done was amazing, outstanding. Once the fans are back in, Marcus Rashford could be the first Man Utd player to get a standing ovation here (at Anfield). He’d definitely deserve it because thousands of families are going to get fed now.”
Such is the animosity between Liverpool and United these days, it would appear unlikely that a player would ever move between them in the current climate. Even if it was one pushing for a transfer.
Yet with rivalries put aside to dish out such praise to the 24-year-old, could the same now happen on the pitch? With the England international out of contract in 2023, the decision could even be taken out of United's hands if Liverpool really were interested in his services.
And there aren't many players as tailor-made for Klopp's system as Rashford. It's hard to escape the feeling that he'd have flourished at Anfield with his pace, positioning and eye for goal all fitting Klopp's preferred 4-3-3 formation.
And with the desired work ethic, married with the gegenpressing tactics that have been Klopp's trademark, Rashford has all the abilities to have been a success at any club managed by the German. Klopp has said as much previously, singing out Rashford for praise when talking about the abilities of United's attack.
"It's a really good mix, the offensive potential they have," Klopp said of United last May. "I don't know if you still consider - I don't know exactly, how old is Marcus Rashford? 21, 22, 23? He looks quite young, meanwhile, he is very experienced.
"One of this English generation's offensive players, which is absolutely incredible. If you count them all, you think, who would you want to leave out?... Wow, what a generation."
Quick, young, versatile, homegrown - if you take away the shirt on his back, he has all the attributes to be the ideal Liverpool signing.
Yet Rashford has ultimately failed to live up to such praise this season, registering just five goals from 26 appearances and making just 15 starts, with the forward arguably struggling since missing a penalty in last summer’s Euro 2020 final penalty shootout and missing the first two months of the campaign through injury.
Speaking before United’s derby defeat, Rangnick was determined to help Rashford return to form, however.
“With Marcus Rashford, we have another player who I will insist and continuously be behind him and with him, to develop him,” he said. “We have achieved that with quite a few other young players in the past and I don’t see why this should not happen with Marcus.
“He’s got abundant talent, he’s got the pace, he’s got the physicality, he’s got everything that you need for a modern striker, no matter if he’s playing from the wing or in the centre. I will put all my energy into that, to help him to take the same pathway that other players did in the last three months.”
With Rangnick only interim manager at Old Trafford until the summer, it’s debatable whether he can really have the desired impact on Rashford’s career. And that leaves him once again at the mercy of Old Trafford bosses to avoid another ill-thought out managerial appointment.
Indeed, with his contract expiring in 2023, the same time as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino’s own deals at Anfield, a decision will most likely be made during the summer. Unfortunately for Rashford, the future seems uncertain given his present circumstances. And There is no doubt Liverpool are the kind of club who could deliver what he wants. Klopp has proved that in several ways - his team's attacking style and his skilful use of squad rotation chief among them.
And while Reds fret about the prospect of their own unthinkable exit, with Salah's future more uncertain than ever after sources close to his agent claimed negotiations broke down in December and he has no intention of signing the current deal in front of him, United could provide the most unlikely of replacements if he did depart.
It would certainly take a brave Reds chief to initiate such a switch, and a braver United boss to sanction such a deal. But the bravest man of all would be the one making the inconceivable transfer. In the modern world, the abuse he has received so far from United fans while one of their own would be a drop in the ocean compared to what would await him if he moved to Anfield.
As a result, admiration or no admiration, the reality is that a Rashford switch to the red half of Merseyside will surely remain a non-starter, with the chances of the unspoken rule of no direct transfers between United and Liverpool being broken anytime soon remaining as slim as ever.
A version of this story was first published on March 3, 2022.
