The rivalry of Fergie and King Kenny: The edge between the men who symbolise United and Liverpool

Never has a weekend clash between English football’s most inveterate foes been prefaced by something so compelling as a public discussion between the two men who encapsulate the rivalry.

The domestic settings from which Sir Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson appeared for an event in aid of football dementia research on Friday night – Sir Kenny in what looked like a leather-backed armchair, Sir Alex in front of his living room bay window – reflected a far more benign sparring than we’ve known between the two.

The discussion was just a few minutes old when Ferguson, with a glint in his eye, took us back to a particularly brutal Glasgow winter, in 1969. A Scottish Reserve Football League Old Firm fixture at Celtic Park pitched Dalglish, an 18-year-old Celtic forward being billed in the city’s press as the ‘next big thing’, against Ferguson, a Rangers striker 10 years his senior, who had just been dumped into the second string.  

Sir Kenny Dalglish (right) and Sir Alex Ferguson (left) epitomise Liverpool and United’s rivalry

Dalglish’s coaches decided to try him out at centre back – ‘for educational reasons,’ as Dalglish later remembered it – so he was up against Ferguson that afternoon. Each will tell you they won that clash. 

Dalglish once remembered how, while marking Ferguson, he turned out his tracksuit pocket, as if to say he had him in it. Ferguson once recalled telling him, ‘You’ll need a doctor for this’ and promptly scored. 

Dalglish has previously insisted Celtic won 2-0, though he’d done more research for Friday night’s event. ‘We actually won 4-1,’ he told Ferguson. ‘The St John Ambulance came on to resuscitate you.’

The beauty of something as rare as Friday night’s virtual Lockdown Theatre event is that it brings out details that, despite all the ink spilt about the participants, have never been known. 

Ferguson (right) and Dalglish have a conflicting account of their battle when in the reserves

Ferguson (right) and Dalglish have a conflicting account of their battle when in the reserves

Ferguson's Aberdeen were also beaten by a swashbuckling Liverpool side led by Dalglish

Ferguson’s Aberdeen were also beaten by a swashbuckling Liverpool side led by Dalglish

For the first time, we heard that Ferguson actually mentioned to the Rangers manager that Dalglish might be worth signing. He’d been tipped off by a Rangers player, Alan Miller, who knew him. ‘And lo and behold he goes and signs for Celtic,’ Ferguson said. ‘That was good news! That was a tragedy.’

For his own part, Dalglish remembered Ferguson, as a Rangers player, giving him and his friends a lift into Glasgow in his Austin Cambridge car, during his own formative Celtic years. ‘My feet didn’t touch the ground. I was that wee.’

The particular kind of distaste which Liverpool and United share for each had allowed for little public diplomacy before Friday night. But these few hours of talk – with Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate superb contributors in the company of football royalty – were a reminder of the mutual respect that has always resided within.

Ferguson said he was not even sure that he really did vow to knock Liverpool ‘right off the perch’ – give or take a few expletives. ‘I don’t know where that came from. I’m not sure I even said that. But it gathered mileage over the years. It’s obvious that you have to beat Liverpool to win anything. That was always my mental attitude.’ 

But there remains a mutual admiration between the pair despite the rivalry of their clubs

Dalglish fought Ferguson's corner when the United boss was under pressure in the early days

Dalglish fought Ferguson’s corner when the United boss was under pressure in the early days

Ferguson’s revelation in his second autobiography that Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson had a worrying ‘gait’ seemed brutal, though he declared here that he ‘loved him’ as a player and that was why he wanted to sign him.

‘I spoke to Steve Bruce about him,’ Ferguson said. ‘But the scouting and medical department said they weren’t happy with his running style.’ 

Injury prone players are ‘a waste of time,’ Ferguson reflected. ‘But all the stories tell me we missed a really good person.’

There’s always been a deeper narrative than the surface sound-and-fury between these two. When Ferguson was under severe pressure in his early United days, it was Dalglish who stood up at a Football Writers’ Association dinner and told the assembled ranks about the older man’s ability to manage.  

Sunday's table-topping clash between the two clubs will not see either legend in the dugout

Sunday’s table-topping clash between the two clubs will not see either legend in the dugout 

Ferguson’s physiotherapist, Jim McGregor, took Dalglish aside a few weeks later and said: ‘By the way, the gaffer needed that.’

Ferguson concluded on Friday night – seemingly quite seriously – that he was glad he’d retired when he did, in 2013. 

‘Thank goodness. When I see Liverpool’s performances in the last few years, it’s been incredible.’

His parting shot to Dalglish was: ‘See you Sunday,’ because he will be at Anfield. ‘Yes, we’ll see you,’ said Dalglish. ‘Put the cork on the bottle and bring it with you.’