The enmity between the two sides who collide again this weekend never seems to subside. Even last week, Jurgen Klopp tried to place Gary Neville's annihilation of the European Super League breakaway clubs within the narrative of Manchester United's dislike of Liverpool.
But when it comes to existential matters — preservation of these two great clubs — the relationship has always been far more complicated than that. It would perhaps be an exaggeration to describe what has existed between them at certain critical moments as 'sympathy' but there is certainly empathy and mutual understanding.