A footnote that never should be forgotten about Liverpool's swashbuckling 4-1 rout of Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 2009 is that Hyypia was not supposed to start the game.

An injury to Alvaro Arbeloa in the warm-up meant a rapid reshuffle, with Sami brought into the defence for the top-of-the-table encounter at short notice.

Not that you would have known it by the Finn’s exemplary performance on the afternoon as Benitez’s charges recovered from an early concession to run riot against their fierce rivals.