Rewind to March 2015, the last time Manchester United visited Anfield to take on rivals Liverpool.
The game was won by a superb volley from Juan Mata, but the main talking point following the match was the sending off of Steven Gerrard, this turned out to be his last game against Manchester United.
In a match which appeared to lack fire, captain Gerrard was a half-time substitute sent on to get the crowd up and help get his team back into the match. Although the diehard Liverpool player was sent from the field after 38 seconds for stamping on United midfielder Ander Herrera.
Rightfully sent from the field for his behaviour the Manchester United fans cheered goodbye to the Liverpool midfielder, but were they saying goodbye to the last of a dying breed? Goodbye to a player who really knew what the Liverpool - Manchester United derby was all about.
Foreign policy
Manchester United, in their post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, are searching for stability, similar to which the Scotsman brought to the club over 26 years. In order to chase success in the billionaire market of the Premier League, the club has spent the best part of £250 million.
It seems in every transfer window the red devils look for a quick fix, bringing usually foreign players in who may have no real understanding of the club, its history or its traditions.
There is no doubt the two most decorated teams in England will continue to provide exciting football matches, courtesy of some of the most talented players from all over the world.
However, it is this talent and multinational nature that will see this formerly unique match watered down, into a contest which will become much like any big Premier League encounter.
I am not suggesting that foreign players have not embraced this tie. The likes of, Dirk Kuyt, Dimitar Berbatov and even Fernando Torres have all made their mark in this classic encounter, but did so with the support of a core of local players around them to remind them of the importance of the tie.
It's is fair to raise the question that if these local iconic figures are no longer at the club then the dynamic of the tie will inevitably change.
The glory days
Long gone are the days of Paul Scholes or Jamie Carragher crashing into tackles with sheer desire to beat their biggest rivals. It is my fear that the days of local passion and commitment have been swallowed up into the ever growing gentrified business commodity of the Premier League.
It is extremely unlikely that we will see a similar Gary Neville celebration of 2006, when the one club man celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans after United snatched a winner at Old Trafford. That was passion that we will no longer see on the same magnitude in this fixture.
The local players’ aspect are what gave the tie an even more exciting edge. Local lads representing their club for their fans against their rivals.
The classic players on both sides have gone down in history for their contribution to this tie, and are also well remembered for their imaginative quotes which prove how deep this rivalry runs.
Former United captain Neville has been quoted as saying; “I can’t stand Liverpool. I can’t stand Liverpool people, I can’t stand anything to do with them. When I was growing up there was certainly a large amount of jealousy involved. The truth is I envied them for all the success the team was having.”
Lack of local players
Manchester United’s starting eleven in their last match against Newcastle United featured just one local player who came through the youth ranks, which was Jesse Lingard. Although they also had 18-year-old Cameron Borthwick-Jackson on the substitutes bench who was born in Manchester.
In Liverpool’s latest match, a 3-3 draw with Arsenal, there was not one local English player in the starting eleven nor the match day squad.
It is expected that the same squads will take to the field this weekend.
This gives further reason to say that coe Sunday afternoon, no matter how much the televising channel try to add excitement to the build-up, Liverpool against Manchester United will take the form of a fixture which will differ from fierce clashes of old, it could take a different dynamic altogether.