MANCHESTER UNITED host Liverpool this afternoon while Ronnie O’Sullivan faces Mark Williams in snooker’s Tour Championship final.
O’Sullivan, 48, and Williams, 49, are two veterans of the circuit these days and will face off just two miles from Old Trafford.
AFPMan Utd will meet Liverpool at Old Trafford this afternoon[/caption]
GettyRonnie O’Sullivan will be in action against Mark Williams later today[/caption]
Their combined age of 97 is the oldest in the history of the tournament.
While incredibly this is their first meeting in a ranking final since 2000.
Curiously, on that day, Man Utd also hosted Liverpool.
If any Red Devils fans reading believe in omens, they may want to look away now.
That’s because on that occasion, on December 17, 2000, Liverpool beat United 1-0.
A 43rd minute goal by Danny Murphy consigned Sir Alex Ferguson‘s side to defeat.
Meanwhile, around 6,000 miles away in Shenzhen, O’Sullivan beat Williams to lift the 2000 China Open.
So any Liverpool fans that support the Rocket will hope for the same pair of outcomes this afternoon.
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O’Sullivan and Williams trophy hauls
The experienced duo have picked up plenty of silverware
Ronnie O’Sullivan:
World Champion – 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2022
UK Championship – 1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2023
Masters – 1995, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2024
41 ranking titles
Mark Williams:
World Champion – 2000, 2003, 2018
UK Championship – 1999, 2002
Masters – 1998, 2003
25 ranking titles
Should Jurgen Klopp‘s side win they will return to the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal are currently a point above the Reds at the summit.
Man Utd, meanwhile, will hope to narrow the gap with fifth-placed Tottenham.
The Red Devils are nine back from Spurs, with Ange Postecoglou‘s men also in action this afternoon, hosting Nottingham Forest.
United were rocked by their last-gasp 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in mid-week.
While they also suffered a setback at Brentford last weekend by conceding a late leveller.
They will draw confidence from their 4-3 FA Cup over Liverpool at Old Trafford last month, however, during which they fought back to win when Amad Diallo netted in stoppage time of extra time.
GettyDanny Murphy celebrates netting the winner at Old Trafford[/caption]
AFPRonnie O’Sullivan won the 2000 China Open in Shenzhen[/caption]
AFPThe Rocket beat Mark Williams in the final[/caption]“}]]