Manchester United and Liverpool meet without local talent for first time in Premier League history

Saturday 12 September 2015 09:46, UK

For the first time in Premier League history, Manchester United and Liverpool are set to face off on Saturday without a locally born player featuring for either side.

The famous fixture has seen a player from the Liverpool or Manchester area turn out for their respective side in each of their 46 previous Premier League encounters.

However, Huyton boy Steven Gerrard left Liverpool for LA Galaxy in the summer and, with Liverpudlians Jon Flanagan and Jordan Rossiter unlikely to play, the Saturday Night Football showdown this weekend is set to become a Premier League first.

That is some departure from Gerrard's first appearance against United in September 1999. In that 3-2 win for United at Anfield there were EIGHT players in action for their local side.

Gerrard, Jamie Carragher (who scored two own goals), David Thompson and Robbie Fowler appeared for Liverpool, and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ronnie Wallwork and Paul Scholes turned out for United.

Wayne Rooney, who was born in Croxteth, Liverpool, is more than likely to be on the field at Old Trafford this weekend - but the England record-breaker will be in the red of Manchester United.

The fixture will also be the first Premier League meeting between the sides in 16 years not to feature either Gerrard or Ryan Giggs.