Although the 2014 FA Cup Final will not be a 'Reds v Blues' affair, some of the most iconic images down the years have come from that classic combination of Cup Final kit colours.
To celebrate the launch of The FA's 'Love Football Play Football' initiative, FA Historian David Barber takes a look back at five of the most memorable 'Reds v Blues' encounters of the past 30 years.
1986: Liverpool 3-1 Everton
It was the first all-Merseyside Final and the first Final at Wembley between the top two teams in the League. ‘Blue’ Everton were appearing in their third successive Final and ‘Red’ Liverpool had won the Championship for the eighth time in eleven years by just two points. The Blues, determined to make up for missing out on the title to their great rivals, went ahead through Gary Lineker on 28 minutes. But Reds player-manager and legend Kenny Dalglish led them to their first ‘Double’ after Ian Rush (twice) and Craig Johnston netted in the second half. They were unstoppable.
Match of the Day colleagues now, but on opposing sides in 1986 - Gary Lineker and Mark Lawrenson compete in 1986
1995: Everton 1-0 Manchester United
Everton had lost their last three Finals – to Manchester United (1985), Liverpool (1986) and Liverpool again (1989). United, the Cup holders, had to lift The Cup for a record ninth time to avoid having their first barren season for six years. The only goal came after half-an-hour, with Paul Rideout heading home after Graham Stuart’s shot had thudded against the underside of the bar. Joe Royle, a former top player for ‘Blue’ Everton, managed them to Cup success in a season in which they finished 15th in the League. They kept ‘Red’ United out with some backs-to-the-wall defending.
Paul Rideout heads home Everton's winner against Manchester United in 1995
2002: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
Two classy goals in the second half in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium won The Cup for ‘Red’ Arsenal. Four days later their 1-0 Premier League win at Old Trafford completed the ‘Double’, their second in five seasons. There were some big names and reputations on show at the Final – Henry and Bergkamp for the Gunners, the prolific Hasselbaink-Gudjohnsen partnership for ‘Blue’ Chelsea – and the first all-London Final for 20 years was cagey to start with. Ray Parlour curled in Arsenal’s first from 22 yards and Freddie Ljungberg made it a clinching 2-0 ten minutes later.
Chelsea triumphed over Arsenal in 2002
2007: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (aet)
The Final was back at Wembley and it could hardly have been a more glittering occasion. A crowd of 89,826 inside the new Stadium, 12.9m viewers on UK television and nearly half a billion worldwide saw ‘Blue’ Chelsea beat ‘Red’ Manchester United with Didier Drogba’s goal four minutes from the end of extra-time. John Terry received the famous trophy from Prince William and ‘Blue is the Colour’ rang round the Chelsea half of Wembley. United pipped them to the League title, the top two teams clashing in The Final for only the third time in the history of The Cup.
Didier Drogba scores the first Cup Final goal at the new Wembley to win it for Chelsea in 2007
2012: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Chelsea, now managed by Roberto di Matteo, were playing in their fourth Final in six years – the Blues had won the previous three – and goals by Ramires and Drogba kept that remarkable run going in a closely-run contest against the ‘Red’ half of Merseyside. Liverpool’s Andy Carroll gave them hope and was then inches away from equalising. Blues skipper John Terry lifted the trophy for the fourth time, Didier Drogba scored in his fourth Final and Ashley Cole collected a record seventh winners’ medal – three for ‘Red’ Arsenal and four for ‘Blue’ Chelsea.
Chelsea and Liverpool fans on Olympic Way ahead of the 2012 FA Cup Final
Five great Finals. Two wins for the Reds and three for the Blues!
