For most of the 'legends' on show at Anfield on Saturday, it was a chance to relive memories, to put on the Manchester United or Liverpool kits one more time and reminisce about their years at their respective clubs.
But while most players were back in the bosom of once familiar dressing rooms, Darren Fletcher was wearing the crest of the club he still represents. The Scot is still a very visible figure at Old Trafford as technical director and if some of the other players involved in this charity fixture had grown a sense of detachment from their former clubs, Fletcher certainly hasn't.
The Scot was one of the youngest players on the pitch at 38 and certainly one of the sharpest. His exact role has often been questioned but maybe the time he's spent on the training pitches at Carrington was to prepare him for this. Friendly or not, no United employee wants to be on the losing side at Anfield.
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Having fielded a weak team of legends back in May at Old Trafford for the reverse fixture, United had a stronger line-up at Anfield, although it was one that lacked depth and was always going to struggle for fitness as the afternoon wore on.
After that 3-1 defeat to Liverpool four months ago Patrice Evra, another player who wears his heart on his sleeve in a Champions League final or a charity kickabout, called on United's absent legends. There was a better roll call on show on Merseyside.
Dimitar Berbatov did play in that first game and he was as silky this time as he was then. With Fletcher and Michael Carrick in midfield United were bolstered with some class.
The slower pace was perfect for Carrick, who was given time on the ball to display his range of passing. If the physical prowess can desert a player, the technical gifts rarely do and the 41-year-old remains a metronomic passer of a football.
He started the game by dropping deep, taking the ball off Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen and dictating play, but his influence in the final third was felt inside seven minutes. When he picked up possession on the right-hand side 35 yards from goal he swept a perfect pass out to Danny Pugh, who controlled it and quickly laid it off to Berbatov. His flashing volley from 15 yards arrowed into the top corner of the Kop goal.
It was one of the finest goals United had scored in this stadium in a long time. Berbatov famously scored a hat-trick against Liverpool at Old Trafford, but this sweetly struck volley that faded away from Jerzy Dudek was the kind of strike every United forward would savour.
The Bulgarian hasn't been shy about airing his views on United in recent years but winning in club colours at Anfield still mattered. When he gave Fraizer Campbell an earful for failing to make a run for him it was a reminder those competitive instincts rarely die out.
The tackles were starting to fly in as well. Fletcher was upended by Momo Sissoko but then won back possession by going in on Xabi Alonso. When Sissoko tried to stop Fletcher from taking a quick throw-in he pushed the imposing former Mali international in the chest. That kind of fight might go down well with Erik ten Hag next time he next sits down with the technical director at Carrington.
Ten Hag had demanded a first team who showed the right attitude and fight for each other and to see Fletcher snapping into challenges during a fundraiser is the kind of approach United are used to from their players. He was booed by the Kop when he took one first-half corner and might get a frosty reception on his return for more official business in March.
Fletcher was back on the floor early in the second half when substitute Djimi Traore slid through the back of him. He was one of several half-time substitutes for the home side and those fresh legs made an immediate impact.
United, unchanged at the break, were stretched when Robbie Keane found space to pull a ball back for Mark Gonzalez, who had the simple task of converting from 12 yards.
Andy Ritchie's United side began to make changes themselves in a game that lacked any kind of penalty box drama for much of the second half. The introduction of Roy Keane with 17 minutes to go had to wake the Anfield crowd from their slumber, with the boos a reminder that a crowd were still inside the stadium.
Just as it looked like the game was fizzling out it was the hosts who snatched victory. A loose ball fell to Florent Sinama Pongolle in the penalty area and his low, left-footed finish arrowed past replacement goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington.
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