The shirts of two recent Manchester United legends are permanently showcased in Liverpool’s away dressing room at Anfield as a symbolic reminder of their contributions to the rivalry and the history between the two clubs.

Liverpool and Manchester United are widely regarded as two of the biggest rivals in football, with their clashes among the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar. Over the years, the rivalry has been fierce, with United holding 83 wins in their 215 meetings, compared to Liverpool’s 72 victories and 60 draws.

Given this bitter rivalry, it may come as a surprise that Liverpool honors two Manchester United legends, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo, by displaying their shirts in the away dressing room at Anfield. Alongside jerseys of other football icons like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Gianluigi Buffon, and Fabio Cannavaro, these shirts are showcased during stadium tours on non-match days.

The reason for this gesture lies with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who selected Keane and Ronaldo as two of the greatest players he ever faced during his career. While the home dressing room features the shirts of Liverpool’s current squad, the away dressing room celebrates some of the most memorable opposition players to grace Anfield.

Although Carragher has been critical of Ronaldo in the past, particularly when comparing him to Lionel Messi, he has also praised the Portuguese star for his remarkable evolution as a player. Speaking to Football365, Carragher explained:

“Ronaldo became a great player at United. In his last two years, he was the main man. But when he first arrived, United had so many great players that he wasn’t initially someone you built a team talk around. He didn’t cause us too many problems early on.

“It’s fascinating with Ronaldo – I’d describe him as one of the greatest goalscorers ever. But unlike most natural goalscorers, he wasn’t always one. He made himself into a goalscorer through sheer work ethic and mental strength, which I think are his greatest qualities.”

This acknowledgment of greatness, even from a fierce rival, is what led to the inclusion of Keane and Ronaldo’s shirts in the Anfield dressing room, cementing their legacy in football history.