“Are you trying to get me f*****g killed?”
It’s nearly 20 years since that goal, but Paul Ince knows it’s still a touchy subject to many.
As was his decision to join Liverpool after six years at Manchester United that kicked off an unprecedented period of dominance for Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I’m not sure I would have gone from Manchester United straight to Liverpool,” says the former England international. “I went to Inter and then to Liverpool.”
That’s true, but for Man Utd supporters at the time, it was the ultimate betrayal to see such an iconic figure in the shirt of their most hated rivals.
Ince’s departure to Inter as part of Ferguson’s cull in the summer of 1995 broke up what is still regarded as one of United’s finest teams.
The double-winners of 1994 will always hold a special place in the hearts of Old Trafford’s faithful, with a blend of power and pace, along with the artistry of Eric Cantona.
Ince’s midfield partnership with Roy Keane was one of the great midfield double acts of the Premier League era, so when Ferguson decided to accept a £7m bid from Inter, United fans were rocked to the core.
But that was nothing compared to the widespread fury that greeted their hero’s return to these shores with Liverpool.
It’s something Ince still has to deal with to this day.
“When I walk down Deansgate they will come up to me and say ‘I cannot believe you left United,’” he says. “I say, ‘I didn’t want to. I didn’t sell me to Inter. I was the one who was going to sign a four-year contract, buy a house in Bramhall and put my kids in school.’
“It was United’s decision. I had six great years. I was part of the first title in 26 years. I gave my blood, sweat and tears, everything - like I did for every club I played for.
“When I was coming back, I knew I liked the north west. I could have gone to Chelsea or Liverpool.
“United had first option and they didn’t take it. I thought, ‘Hang about. I like Liverpool. They’ve got young players and some world class ones like Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. If I could instil my professionalism they could challenge for the title.’
“Why should I not go to Liverpool just because fans say they would be let down? If anybody was let down it was me by United. They sold me behind my back.”
Given Ince’s own sense of betrayal, it was little wonder he celebrated with such abandon when firing an 89th minute equaliser against his former club in a 2-2 draw at Anfield in the May of 99.
Ultimately it was inconsequential. Ferguson’s team were on their way to Treble.
David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Nevilles had already justified their manager’s decision to show the door to Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis in order to provide a pathway for the class of 92.
But the sight of Ince rejoicing in front of the Kop infuriated Ferguson and United fans alike.
Ferguson had infamously dismissed the self-styled ‘Guv’nor’ as a ‘Big time Charlie’ during a fly-on-the-wall documentary the previous year.
It only added to Ince’s motivation.
“It’s always tough when you were at a club and saw it grow, winning the title alongside these players,” he says. “Then two years later you are up against them. You know what’s coming - you know what the game will be like.
“I remember the game really well. There was an electric atmosphere. I remember Dennis Irwin booked and then sent off. Going 2-1 down.
“I remember the ball going into the box and I just ran forward. In front of the Kop, last minute, it was perfect.
“I’d always wanted to score in front of the Kop, and with Fergie and what he’d said, I just enjoyed it so much - and rightly so.
“I never understand not celebrating because you’re playing against your former club. You play for these fans now. They pay your wages. It was an unbelievable feeling to do that.”
How Jose Mourinho must crave a player of Ince’s breed ahead of the visit to Anfield on Sunday.
The United manager has bemoaned a lack of ‘mad dogs’ in midfield.
Ince, you suspect, would walk into this United team, which looks more disjointed with each passing week.
Wednesday’s abject 2-1 defeat to Valencia was hardly ideal preparation for a game against Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders.
And Paul Pogba, in what was dubbed an audition to make the starting XI on Merseyside, was guilty of a woeful miss from only yards out, which could well see him confined to the bench for the fourth time in recent weeks.
Ince suspects the World Cup winner could follow in his own footsteps by heading for the Old Trafford exit.
He thinks the relationship between player and manager could be beyond repair.
“Sometimes egos clash,” he says. “We all had egos - me, Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel - but we knew who the manager was.
“That doesn’t mean we didn’t clash. I did, Keane did, but it was one day and we moved on. With Pogba and Mourinho it's become Coronation Street.
“It’s not gone away. When that happens it affects the rest of the players.
“It wouldn’t have happened in our team because Pogba couldn’t do what he does. When you see what he says to the media, we would’ve controlled that in the changing room.
“Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes wouldn’t tolerate that. You have to conduct yourself in the right way. No one is bigger than Manchester United. No player. They would get nailed.
“To be fair to Mourinho he won’t tolerate it either. He’s put him on the bench.
“When he’s come on what’s he done? The reception from the fans hasn’t been great. It looks like he’s starting to lose the fans a bit and when you start losing them you’ve got to win them over again. But he’s not done it on the pitch.”
Ince adds: “I can see Pogba leaving in January. It’s all set up for him to go. It feels like he will be gone.
“That’s a shame because he’s world class and how much of it is about his relationship with the manager?
“Why are United getting top class players who are not performing?
“When you think about the way Alexis Sanchez was at Arsenal, he’s a completely different player now.
“Pogba was outstanding at Juventus. It was a different style there and he’s suffering now.
“The style has to change or you have to bring in players that fit your philosophy.”
In his candid moments this season Mourinho has opened up about his attempts to bring a more attacking style of football to United.
It has backfired badly, with his side out of the title race before Christmas and facing a fight just to break into the top four.
Ince believes United are now playing catch-up to Liverpool to the extent that David de Gea would be their only player to stand a chance of breaking into Klopp’s first XI.
He claims Mourinho’s priority on Sunday will be to avoid a humiliation.
“They are at different stages as teams,” he says. “You look at Liverpool and Klopp has fantastic balance and strength in depth, playing an attacking style of football that everybody loves. Liverpool fans love it.
“Look at Mourinho and the football is completely different. He knows at this moment in time Liverpool are better than United. We all know it.
“Mourinho knows he’s not got the team to take on Liverpool and could lose by three or four. If he can come away with a draw that’s great for Mourinho. He doesn’t want to get his pants pulled down.
“How many players would get into the Liverpool team? Probably the goalkeeper. It should be five or six players, but I’d say De Gea at a push.”
Klopp might have been at Old Trafford had he been seduced by Ed Woodward’s alleged attempts to lure him from Borussia Dortmund.
Would he have been the perfect man to lead the post Ferguson era?
“Sir Alex was perfect for Manchester United,” says Ince. “You won’t get more perfect than that.
“I can give my opinion on the way Klopp plays fast, aggressive and on the front foot football. It’s the way a lot of teams are going – Manchester City, Tottenham, (Maurizio) Sarri at Chelsea, Arsenal.
“The game has evolved - playing at a high speed with lots of chances. Keeping teams locked in. Fans are loving it win or lose.
“Liverpool fans are loving the way they play and remember Klopp still hasn’t won a trophy. But you can see the progress. What you see at United is demise.
“That’s not just under Mourinho. Since Sir Alex retired they had David Moyes, who wasn’t given enough time, then Louis van Gaal and they went back two years.
“Mourinho had to get them to be be competitive again, but he knows he’s still far behind those teams.
“The problem is fans expect a certain type of football. They see Liverpool and City and the way they play and they see the inconsistency at United. The game has evolved and United fans want to see them play like City.
“Mourinho is a great manager. His record speaks for itself, but it’s not all about the past. You’ve got to keep up with the times.
“People are evolving. Mourinho is great, but you have to evolve. Making fans happy with the style of football that’s being played is important.
“I’m not saying get rid of him, I’m saying he and Ed Woodward have to get the personnel to play the way fans want to play.
“Somewhere down the line they have have to decide where they want to go.”
*Paul Ince is a Paddy Power ambassador, to read more go to news.paddypower.com
