United's double-scoring heroes in 2-1 wins

Saturday 22 March 2025 09:00

Ten years on from Juanfield, we look at some of Manchester United's most memorable 2-1 wins in the Premier League, featuring one goalscorer.

We ended up plumping for 15 of these and, yes, victories over our biggest rivals do feature quite prominently, but there are a number of other sweet instances of one player coming up trumps and netting both of our goals in a 2-1 triumph in the division.

So check out our brief summaries to jog your memory and check out the video to relive some fabulous moments over the years, including that Juan Mata bicycle-kick over and over again...

Video
Juan Mata downed Liverpool with these two goals in 2015.

10/4/1993: Steve Bruce v Sheff Wed (H)

THE game that allowed United fans to finally dream that our torturous wait for a league title was finally coming to an end. Trailing to a John Sheridan penalty, valuable ground looked like being lost on Aston Villa in the hunt for the first Premier League trophy but the turnaround was a seismic one. The ever-dependable Steve Bruce headed past his old mate Chris Woods to level the scores and, in the sixth minute of injury time, the moment nobody there will ever forget arrived. Gary Pallister's deflected cross was given the nod of approval by his defensive partner and Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd included, celebrated wildly.

23/8/1993: Lee Sharpe v Aston Villa (A)

Villa had been our closest challengers in the inaugural Premier League season so this represented something of a statement win, early into what would turn out to be our first-ever Double-winning campaign. Halesowen-born Lee Sharpe was the hero, marking his return to the side by sliding in to tap home the opener and provide one of his trademark celebrations. Although Dalian Atkinson levelled, Paul Ince supplied his second assist for Sharpie to run through unchecked and calmly net his second, forever associating himself with the beautiful black kit.

13/3/1999: Andy Cole v Newcastle (A)

United were hunting a unique treble when threatening to come unstuck at St James' Park. The place erupted when Nolberto Solano crashed in a long-range free-kick. The lead lasted only nine minutes, though, as Cole bit the hand that used to feed him by finding the roof of the net from close range. In the second half, a crossfield pass by David Beckham picked out Ryan Giggs. The Wales winger's cross was an inviting one and Cole stole in to nudge his second. Nobody was going to stop Coley celebrating against his old club either!

22/8/1999: Roy Keane v Arsenal (A)

After landing the Treble, the Reds were there to be shot at in the following term and faced a stern test at Highbury, against an Arsenal side still at the peak of their powers. Roy Keane may have been enjoying an ongoing battle with old adversary Patrick Vieira, but he still found time to turn the game around with two goals, following Freddie Ljungberg's opener. Seconds after Dwight Yorke had a goal ruled out for offside, Keane marched through in Bryan Robson-esque fashion to make it 1-1 and then did likewise, with two minutes left, by being the coolest man in north London when a Giggs shot fell kindly for him inside the box.

1/12/2002: Diego Forlan v Liverpool (A)

Cult hero status was achieved for Diego Forlan when the Uruguayan, who had endured a torrid start to life in Manchester, scored a double on Merseyside that is still sung about today. The first one was an absolute gift, when Jerzy Dudek let the ball slip out of his grasp, and it took only three minutes to register his second, as the South American striker was set up by Giggs. Sami Hyypia pulled one back late on but United held out to inflict a first home defeat of the season for Liverpool.

9/11/2003: Ryan Giggs v Liverpool (A)

Giggsy had played his part in 2002 and, a year later, it was he that fired the bullets in another 2-1 triumph. The wide man's opener was a cross that eluded Dudek and the Polish keeper was beaten again by a firm shot by our long-serving star that he perhaps could have done better with. Harry Kewell, a Reds target before joining the Anfield club, soon halved the arrears but there was to be no denying Sir Alex Ferguson's men again on enemy territory.

Video
Diego came from Uruguay to upset the Merseysiders.

20/9/2004: Mikael Silvestre v Liverpool (H)

This time it was Mikael Silvestre who accounted for our fiercest rivals, emerging as the surprise matchwinner. The defender ghosted in at the far post to head home a Giggs free-kick in the 20th minute to cheer the home crowd, only for John O'Shea to score an unfortunate own goal after the break. The electric Giggs won a corner, swung it in himself and Silvestre met it with a booming header to earn the three points.

23/12/2007: Cristiano Ronaldo v Everton (H)

This game sticks in the memory as it was very close to Christmas and Cristiano Ronaldo ensured all Reds would enjoy their festivities a couple of days later. A superb left-footed drive looked to have got the ball rolling but the Toffees responded with a headed equaliser by Tim Cahill. It looked like a winner was never going to come until, with time running out, Steven Pienaar recklessly flicked out a leg to up-end Giggs and Ronaldo did the rest from the spot.

24/10/2010: Javier Hernandez v Stoke City (A)

A pretty iconic United goal from this period, Mexican marksman Javier Hernandez pulled off a rarely seen back-header to prove his improvisation skills in front of goal and put us ahead in the 27th minute. Stoke looked to have stolen a point when Tuncay Sanli hit a superb curler to make it 1-1 with only nine minutes remaining. However, Chicharito had the last word, pouncing on a Patrice Evra ball into the danger area, to spark jubiliant scenes in the overspilling away end.

6/11/2010: Ji-sung Park v Wolves (H)

South Korean superstar Ji-sung Park got the Reds over the line, just, with goals at the end of each half. Darren Fletcher did well to set up Park as the opening period drew to a close but former Reds Academy graduate Syvan Ebanks-Blake hauled Wolves level. Mick McCarthy's men were on the brink of claiming a point when, deep into stoppage time, Park picked the ball up outside the box. He jinked inside to find a shooting angle and slipped his finish wide of Marcus Hahnemann in the visitors' net.

Video
Javier Hernandez provides a pretty unique finish at Stoke.

11/2/2012: Wayne Rooney v Liverpool (H)

Let's be honest, it's hard to overlook wins against the red half of Merseyside and nobody would have enjoyed it more than ex-Evertonian Wayne Rooney. Our super striker came to the fore in this 2012 edition of one of world football's biggest games. After a goalless first half, in a game that will be better remembered for Evra and Luis Suarez coming up against each other for the first time since their clash at Anfield, a Giggs corner fell kindly for Rooney, who smashed past Pepe Reina. A few minutes later, the England man converted an Antonio Valencia pass to double the lead. Suarez pulled one back but it proved a consolation and he left the field with Evra bouncing past him in celebration in the way to the tunnel.

5/10/2013: Adnan Januzaj v Sunderland (A)

A match that announced Adnan Januzaj's arrival on the big stage as the youngster made the most of his first Premier League start. Craig Gardner secured an early lead for the Black Cats but two goals inside five second-half minutes changed the complexion of the game. The Belgian winger arrived in the area to sidefoot the leveller and then conjured up a belting volley from a Nani cross to illustrate his expert technique.

22/3/2015: Juan Mata v Liverpool (A)

A decade ago, Anfield became Juanfield as our Spanish maestro took centre stage with a spellbinding performance. Ander Herrera slipped a perfect through ball into the path of his Spanish pal and Mata made no mistake in the 14th minute. But it is his second goal, just before the hour mark, that is surely one of the best we have ever scored at Liverpool's home ground. Executing a textbook bicycle-kick, adjusting to the fact Angel Di Maria's pass was just behind him, this was the stuff of dreams. Steven Gerrard, teased mercilessly by the away end when warming up, lasted only 45 seconds after coming on, as he was sent off for a stamp on Herrera. Daniel Sturridge did give the hosts hope but the 10 men could not complete any rescue act. 

Which two-goal performance in a 2-1 Premier League win was the most memorable for you?poll

Which two-goal performance in a 2-1 Premier League win was the most memorable for you?

10/3/2018: Marcus Rashford v Liverpool (H)

Our last entry against the Merseysiders, we promise, but, again, it's one that is simply impossible to overlook. Our homegrown forward tormented the visitors at a raucous Old Trafford, grabbing both of our goals before 25 minutes had elapsed. The 200th meeting between the rivals exploded into life when Marcus Rashford latched onto a Romelu Lukaku flick-on, checked inside Trent Alexander-Arnold majestically and thumped in a glorious finish. Ten minutes later, he pounced on a loose ball to fire past Lorius Karius. Despite Eric Bailly slicing a Sadio Mane cross into his own net, Jose Mourinho's men took the points.

7/10/2023: Scott McTominay v Brentford (H)

One of the most dramatic finishes seen in a game at Old Trafford was an ending that few could have seen coming. Mathias Jensen's first-half effort had the Bees on course for victory and the match appeared to be fizzling out. Three minutes of injury time had elapsed when Scott McTominay kept his composure to rifle in what appeared to be a point-saving equaliser. Yet, with one last throw of the dice, Harry Maguire went up for a free-kick, won a towering header and the super substitute was perfectly placed to nod a sensational winner.

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