It has been almost a decade since Manchester United last tasted victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Their 1-0 victory in January 2016 marked the club's latest success at the home of bitter rivals Liverpool, and it has been a painful journey since.
As we approach another great clash between these two historic clubs, why not take a look back at what the world looked like nine years ago?
From global politics to some of football's biggest shocks, a lot has changed since Wayne Rooney's goal sealed the decisive victory for the Red Devils.
So sit back, relax and enjoy a trip down memory lane.
The United Kingdom is still in the European Union
In January 2016, the United Kingdom was still a member of the European Union.
Brexit has been a heated political debate, but it has not yet reached a dramatic turning point.
Then-Prime Minister David Cameron had promised to hold a referendum on EU membership, which was scheduled to take place in June of that year.
The UK has voted to leave the European Union, and all the votes are in place https://t.co/m92qRMPV6H #Britain's exit from the European Union pic.twitter.com/J5Y0l8h61h
– BBC breaking news (@BBCBreaking) June 24, 2016
Debates about sovereignty, immigration and economic relations with Europe dominated the political climate, but few could have predicted the narrow 52% to 48% vote to leave that would occur just six months later.
At the time of Manchester United's recent win at Anfield, no one knew how divisive Brexit would be or how complicated the withdrawal process would be.
The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020, ushering in a new era of political and economic uncertainty.
Donald Trump ran for president
On the other side of the Atlantic, the political scene was no less turbulent.
In January 2016, Donald Trump was in the midst of his first election campaign for president of the United States.
His fiery rhetoric and unorthodox style made him a controversial figure, but few people imagined that he would actually secure the Republican nomination – let alone win the presidency.
At the time, the Democratic race was also tight, with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders vying for their party's nomination.
Trump's campaign rallies dominated headlines, as his slogan “Make America Great Again” gained a great deal of traction among voters dissatisfied with the status quo.
BREAKING: Billionaire businessman Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States https://t.co/ySV4w1Dx1b pic.twitter.com/Z8cWWSG5f2
– CNBC (@CNBC) January 20, 2017
By November 2016, Trump would stun the world by defeating Clinton in the general election, reshaping American politics and global relations for years to come.
Seven years later, he is set to take office again after bringing down Kamala Harris' campaign.
Leicester March 5000/1
While Manchester United's win at Anfield was important for the Red Devils at the time, the biggest football story of that season was Leicester's incredible run to the Premier League title.
In January 2016, Claudio Ranieri's underdog side were defying odds of 5000/1, sitting at the top of the table and leaving traditional powerhouses such as Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in their wake.
Leicester's success was built on the brilliance of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, along with a tight defense led by captain Wes Morgan.
Come May, the Foxes will complete their fairytale, lifting the Premier League trophy in one of the most unlikely achievements in football history.
Their victory was a symbol of hope for smaller clubs in the coming years and proved that hard work can overcome financial disparity.
We did it!
Leicester City is @premierleague revocation!https://t.co/cpEtWjv3kU#havingaparty pic.twitter.com/H0uLZHn7cu
– Leicester City (@LCFC) May 2, 2016
The Three Lions by Roy Hodgson
In early 2016, Roy Hodgson was in charge of the England national team, preparing for the European Championship in France that summer.
Hodgson's tenure has been a mixed bag, with highs such as a perfect Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, in which England won all ten of their matches, and lows such as a disappointing group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
However, the optimism surrounding a young and talented England team would soon fade.
At Euro 2016, England suffered one of their most humiliating defeats, losing 2-1 to Iceland in the round of 16.
Hodgson resigned immediately after the match, marking the end of his term.
Gareth Southgate later took over, leading England to a renaissance in the years that followed.
foot:#ENG 1-2 #ISL
Iceland advances to #Euro2016 In the quarter-finals, he will face the hosts #fromhttps://t.co/OccbGNVVju pic.twitter.com/TUAhJ8GxPE– FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 27, 2016
Covid-19 and football behind closed doors
Three years after Manchester United's victory at Anfield, the world faced a crisis of unimaginable proportions.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, brought life to a halt in 2020.
For football, this meant empty stadiums, postponed matches, and a new style of matches played behind closed doors.
The absence of fans from the stadiums greatly affected the atmosphere of the match.
Anfield, famous for its lively environment, felt eerily quiet during this period, even as the Reds won their first Premier League title.
The players had to adjust to competing in near silence, with only the echoes of their shouts and ball strikes breaking the silence.
While the game went on, the soul of football – the fans – were sorely missed until the stadiums reopened in 2021.
In a long time! 👑
Liverpool are the champions of the English Premier League 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VvurVlGUuT
– NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 25, 2020
Time to hang up?
As United prepare to face Liverpool again, fans will reflect on how much has changed since that January afternoon in 2016.
Football, like the world, never stops and Sunday's match will add another chapter to the historic rivalry between these two famous clubs.
New Red Devils coach Ruben Amorim hopes to put himself in the history books with a rare win on Merseyside.
Meanwhile, Arne Slott will back his in-form Liverpool side to continue their title campaign.
Either way, a North West derby is always a huge value, and this clash should be no different.
