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Manchester United represents one of the premier footballing institutions in the world. The Red Devils have been extremely successful over the course of their rich and varied history, winning 21 league titles, 12 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, 3 Champions League winners medals, and a Europa League crown. They are arguably the most successful English team of all time.
Under the management of legendary managers such as Sir Matt Busby and more recently, Sir Alex Ferguson; the Red Devils rose to the top of the footballing landscape. They provided performances and results to cement the spot.
Having operated at the very highest level in their recent history, the Red Devils have come up against a rich cast of talented players. While they have prevailed on several occasions, not always have they managed to nullify their opponents.
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Some players have found a knack to churn out consistently good performances against Manchester United, consistently frustrating the Old Trafford faithful. These players share similar qualities, none more common than their poise and ability to perform against United.
So, without further ado, here is our list of five players who have tormented Manchester United over the years:
Honorable mentions
Some players enjoyed a rather fruitful career against the Red Devils but their names may not make the list because of different factors. Legends like Thierry Henry and Robbie Fowler would certainly find their place on a 10-man shortlist. However, both stars respectively managed just nine goals in 23 appearances against United. Other strikers on this list have a much higher goal-to-game ratio.
Stoke City legend John Ritchie (10 goals in 14 games) and Southampton legend Ron Davies (11 goals in 11 games) would also make the list under different circumstances. However, both stars played in the 1960s, before the Premier League era.
#5 Steven Gerrard | Liverpool legend
Now managing Aston Villa in the Premier League, the former Liverpool star could impress his old club and potentially end up at the helm of affairs at Anfield. While he was a player, however, Steven Gerrard did more than impress: He won the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup with the Reds. His presence on this list is mainly due to the sheer number of times he faced Manchester United.
in fact, only Frank Lampard has had more appearances, having played 40 games against United. Gerrard's 35 games against the Red Devils saw him score nine goals and provide five assists. Old Trafford faithful will hardly forget the goal he scored against United during the 2003 FA Cup final, which Liverpool won. His brace against the Red Devils at Old Trafford in 2014, when Liverpool beat them 3-0, will also add an extra dash of torment.
#4 Lionel Messi | PSG
It doesn't matter that the Argentine maestro only had to deal with Manchester United in the Champions League. Lionel Messi and Barcelona's ruthless tiki-taka were enough to see off the Red Devils in the two Champions League finals.
Overall, in six games against United, Barca have won four, leaving the Red Devils to manage a single 1-0 win.
In the UCL finals of 2009 and 2011, Messi found the net and gave Barcelona the continental trophy, with United coming in as runners-up. Most recently, their 2019 UCK knockout clash saw Messi score a brace at Camp Nou in a bid to kick United out. With four goals in just six games against the English outfit, it is little surprise that Lionel Messi isn't well liked at Old Trafford.
#3 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool
Liverpool have been historic rivals to Manchester United, so it is no surprise that the Reds' marksman Mohamed Salah makes this list. Interestingly, the Egyptian maestro never really found his form against the Red Devils until he scored his first goal against them in January 2020,
More notably, however, Manchester United have not won a single game at Anfield with Salah on the pitch. At Old Trafford, the Red Devils have managed just two wins, spanning from 2018 to date.
Since scoring his first goal against the Red Devils two years ago, Salah has brought his total tally to an astonishing seven goals in just five games. In total, the star has faced United nine times.
With seven goals and one assist, his direct goal contribution is nearly one goal per game. It is enough to torment the Old Trafford faithful. With the star currently in his prime, there's no telling how much more torment United will get from him in the coming years.
#2 Edin Dzeko | Inter Milan
No journeyman has scored more goals against Manchester United than Edin Dzeko. The 35-year-old may be past his prime, but the Old Trafford faithful will not readily forget the ace's goalscoring capacities.
Perhaps coincidentally, none of Dzeko's teams (Wolfsburg, Roma, and Manchester City) have ever drawn a game against United while the star has been on the pitch. Every time Dzeko has faced Manchester United in any continental competition, he has scored.
A perfect record of two goals in two UCL games and two goals in two Europa games show just how clinical the Bosnian star is. His best period against United was during his stint with Manchester City. when he guided the Cityzens to beat the Red Devils four times in seven games. Five goals in those seven games, along with two assists, make Dzeko one of the most clinical strikers to ever face the club.
#1 Frank Lampard | Chelsea legend
He may have had a bittersweet period as manager at Stamford Bridge, but Frank Lampard rarely had bitter moments as a player for the Blues. With numerous trophies won with Chelsea, Lampard and the Blues were a formidable force throughout much of the star's career at the club.
By the sheer number of appearances Lampard has made against United, he deserves the top spot on this list. After all, no other player has played more games against the Red Devils.
A mark of his leadership and maturity, the current Everton manager never picked up a single red card while playing against the Red Devils. In those 40 games, the Blues legend also managed just four yellow cards, a stunning amount by any standard. The most unmemorable clash for the United faithful will be the 2007 FA Cup final where Lampard assisted a goal to hand Chelsea the trophy. He also scored the equaliser in the 2008 Champions League final against the Red Devils.
