As Liverpool prepare to go head-to-head with Manchester United on Sunday, Kop icon Sami Hyypia has spoken of the fond memories he has from his numerous tussles with Alex Ferguson's men.
The Finnish defender, who bade farewell to Anfield in the summer after ten years with the Reds, played his part in some unforgettable encounters with United over the course of his decade on Merseyside.
Hyypia made a total of 21 appearances against United, scoring two goals - one of which was his first for Liverpool in his debut season in English football.
"We lost 3-2 but I scored my first Liverpool goal against Manchester United," he recalls.
"Jaap Stam was marking but they had a goalkeeper called Taibi, who came out. Maybe there was a mix-up in communication. I headed into an empty net.
"I also scored at the Kop as well, with my left foot. I haven't scored that many, I can remember them all.
"And we won twice at Old Trafford 1-0, Danny Murphy each time. As a player you always want to be part of those games."
Hyypia brought his association with Liverpool to a close when he joined German outfit Bayer Leverkusen at the end of last season.
The 36-year-old admits it was with a heavy heart that he departed L4, but the opportunity of regular first-team football was too good to turn down.
"I didn't feel I needed a new challenge," he said. "I had a great time at Liverpool. Ten years at a club like that. But when you are not playing and a chance comes to do something about it, then you go for it.
"Liverpool are a great club, great fans, I'll always wish them success."
Hyypia sought the advice of former Anfield teammates before deciding to sign on the dotted line for Leverkusen, having also played against the German club for the Reds in Europe.
"It's no great research, I played here twice in the Champions League," said the Finn.
"But I didn't know much about the history of the club so I called all the German people I knew - Markus Babbel, Philipp Degen, who was at Dortmund, Didi Hamann. All of them were positive, nothing negative."
The evergreen defender has enjoyed an excellent start to his Leverkusen career, with the BayArena club top of the table after nine matches having only conceded five goals.
He acknowledges the weight of expectation at 'Werkself' is lesser than that at Anfield, but despite being in the twilight of his playing career, Hyypia is in no mood to start relaxing.
He said: "When I was at Liverpool I sometimes thought how it would be to be in an environment where there is less pressure.
"Now I know - even though expectations are going up because of the start we've had - but otherwise, in the media for example, Leverkusen are small.
"In Cologne they have three papers writing about FC Cologne and little about Leverkusen. I was thinking, 'What a great situation, we can go into a season without any pressure.'
"Of course, now there is a bit more, but it's nothing like Liverpool. Here you see it when Bayern Munich lose a game or draw, it's all 'crisis', the papers and TV are full of it. I wouldn't say it's a relaxing environment, but it's different. I would never want to relax in football. I want success."
5 goals conceded and top of the league in 9 games... I wander how much Sami has contributed towards that... oh how we could do with his composure in defense right now...
I miss him
*sniffs* :'( :'( who's gonna join me in a Hyppia Love fest... ??
Ohhhh Sami Sami......
The Finnish defender, who bade farewell to Anfield in the summer after ten years with the Reds, played his part in some unforgettable encounters with United over the course of his decade on Merseyside.
Hyypia made a total of 21 appearances against United, scoring two goals - one of which was his first for Liverpool in his debut season in English football.
"We lost 3-2 but I scored my first Liverpool goal against Manchester United," he recalls.
"Jaap Stam was marking but they had a goalkeeper called Taibi, who came out. Maybe there was a mix-up in communication. I headed into an empty net.
"I also scored at the Kop as well, with my left foot. I haven't scored that many, I can remember them all.
"And we won twice at Old Trafford 1-0, Danny Murphy each time. As a player you always want to be part of those games."
Hyypia brought his association with Liverpool to a close when he joined German outfit Bayer Leverkusen at the end of last season.
The 36-year-old admits it was with a heavy heart that he departed L4, but the opportunity of regular first-team football was too good to turn down.
"I didn't feel I needed a new challenge," he said. "I had a great time at Liverpool. Ten years at a club like that. But when you are not playing and a chance comes to do something about it, then you go for it.
"Liverpool are a great club, great fans, I'll always wish them success."
Hyypia sought the advice of former Anfield teammates before deciding to sign on the dotted line for Leverkusen, having also played against the German club for the Reds in Europe.
"It's no great research, I played here twice in the Champions League," said the Finn.
"But I didn't know much about the history of the club so I called all the German people I knew - Markus Babbel, Philipp Degen, who was at Dortmund, Didi Hamann. All of them were positive, nothing negative."
The evergreen defender has enjoyed an excellent start to his Leverkusen career, with the BayArena club top of the table after nine matches having only conceded five goals.
He acknowledges the weight of expectation at 'Werkself' is lesser than that at Anfield, but despite being in the twilight of his playing career, Hyypia is in no mood to start relaxing.
He said: "When I was at Liverpool I sometimes thought how it would be to be in an environment where there is less pressure.
"Now I know - even though expectations are going up because of the start we've had - but otherwise, in the media for example, Leverkusen are small.
"In Cologne they have three papers writing about FC Cologne and little about Leverkusen. I was thinking, 'What a great situation, we can go into a season without any pressure.'
"Of course, now there is a bit more, but it's nothing like Liverpool. Here you see it when Bayern Munich lose a game or draw, it's all 'crisis', the papers and TV are full of it. I wouldn't say it's a relaxing environment, but it's different. I would never want to relax in football. I want success."
5 goals conceded and top of the league in 9 games... I wander how much Sami has contributed towards that... oh how we could do with his composure in defense right now...
I miss him
*sniffs* :'( :'( who's gonna join me in a Hyppia Love fest... ??
Ohhhh Sami Sami......
