Liverpool and Manchester United began Boxing Day level on points at the top of the First Division. By the end of their meeting at Anfield on 26 December 1979, goals from Alan Hansen and David Johnson had given the champions a two-point lead, with a game in hand over their nearest challengers.
Bob Paisley's side had won their previous four league matches, scoring 13 goals. United's visit offered a direct test of that form against Dave Sexton's second-placed team.
Hansen gave Liverpool an early lead, with Ray Kennedy credited with the assist. The Liverpool Echo's report the following day described a first half in which the home side controlled the match and repeatedly left United struggling to keep up. Its judgement was emphatic: the difference between the teams had been greater than their league positions suggested.
The score remained 1–0 for most of the afternoon. The same report described the second half as less demanding for Liverpool, whose command of the game continued even without an immediate second goal. Johnson finally supplied it after 85 minutes, assisted by Kenny Dalglish.
A crowd of 51,073 had watched Liverpool finish with 32 points from 21 matches; United remained on 30 from 22. The title contest still had nearly half a season to run, but Liverpool had taken both available points from the opponent best placed to challenge them.