Reds set for first meeting with rivals as coaches

For years, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso were rivals on the pitch for Manchester United.

Next month, we will come up against the classy playmakers for the first time in their coaching careers.

It represents an obvious sign of the passing of time and it will be intriguing to see how many times they end up in opposition to the Reds in the future.

Fabregas competed for the highest honours with Sir Alex Ferguson's team after joining Arsenal from Barcelona's youth system in 2003.

After the memorable 2-0 win at Old Trafford over the Gunners in the following year, which ended the north Londoners' 49-game unbeaten run, there was a fracas in the tunnel. Fabregas subsequently confirmed the suspicion it was he who threw food at Sir Alex, as the incident was dubbed 'Pizzagate' in the press and attracted much coverage.

Surprisingly, he only scored once in the Premier League against United, in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in November 2007.

A return to Barcelona ensured he did not come up against the Reds for a spell but he signed for Chelsea in 2014 to renew the rivalry.

In total, he faced United 24 times in his career, winning nine games, drawing five and losing 10. A much-respected opponent, the Spain international was linked with a move to Old Trafford during David Moyes's time in charge.

After making a wonderful start to his coaching career, the UEFA Champions League tie at Como on 21 October will start a new chapter in this story.

Xabi Alonso and Michael Carrick in midfield combat.

As for Alonso, the cultured midfielder joined Liverpool in 2004 and engaged in some heated battles with United over the next five years.

His record was not a good one in matches against Ferguson's side, though, losing five of the seven Premier League meetings and only being on the winning team once.

However, he switched to Real Madrid in 2009 and enjoyed helping the Spanish giants knock the Reds out of the 2013 Champions League.

Alonso played in the 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, when Nani was sent off, alongside another man who has faced United as a coach for the first time this season in Alvaro Arbeloa, the current Fulham boss. It proved to be Sir Alex's final European match.

He also played 84 minutes of the round-of-16 first leg, at the Bernabeu, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Despite a move to Bayern Munich, our paths did not cross again but they will on 31 October, when Michael Carrick's men head to west London for an early kick-off against Alonso's Chelsea.

###### The Retro Collection Vol.2

The classic 2007-2009 look.

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 1

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 2

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 3

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 4

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 5

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 6

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 7

- !Retro Vol.2 gallery 8

18

PreviousNext