A GLASWEGIAN rivalry going back more than 40 years will be renewed at Anfield on Sunday. But it was in somewhat unconventional circumstances that Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson first crossed swords.

The playing careers of two of English football’s most celebrated figures were travelling differing paths when they converged at Celtic Park for an Old Firm reserves match way back in 1969.

Ferguson was the experienced striker whose career at Rangers was drawing to a close after a falling out with then Ibrox manager Davie White.

Dalglish, meanwhile, was an up-and-coming teenager at Celtic only starting on his road to success both north and south of the border.

However, this wasn’t a shoot-out between two goal-hungry forwards. Instead, Dalglish was asked to further his fledgling football education by marking his irascible opponent.

Asked whether he enjoyed the better of the tussle, the Liverpool manager laughs before placing his hand in his pocket and saying: “He’d better come out of here!”

Dalglish continues: “It was in a reserve game. I was a big bruising centre-back and he was up front. I read somewhere that he said he’d scored, but I thought we won 2-0. I’m probably wrong about that one! We definitely beat them, though.

“I was only 18 and in defence because of my height and aggression! No, it was for educational purposes, that’s all.

“Fergie had gone for a lot of money to Rangers and they’d lost the Cup final to Celtic the year before. He might have been on the way out at Ibrox at the time.

“The first team played their game at Ibrox and the reserves were at Celtic Park, and he was up against us. I have to say he never gave me a problem.

“It was 40 years ago, and I’ve got a lot of memories of him since.”