With the season entering the final stretch, Liverpool headed to Old Trafford lying second in the league and in search of a result against arch-rivals Manchester United to maintain their title charge.
It may sound eerily familiar, but this was March, 1990.
Kenny Dalglish's side had overcome a spate of injuries and a run of inconsistent form to embark on a 12-match unbeaten run in the league that propelled the Reds into what had previously seemed an unlikely challenge for the championship.
Top of the table at the start of the month, Liverpool's FA Cup commitments - a quarter-final and subsequent replay against Queens Park Rangers - had allowed Graham Taylor's Aston Villa to leap-frog them in the league with a pair of victories against Luton Town and Derby County.