Liverpool surrendered a 3–1 lead against ten-man Manchester United at Anfield on 4 April 1988. The draw preserved their eleven-point advantage over their nearest challengers, with two games in hand, but United recovered from a position that had offered Liverpool the chance to widen the gap.
Bryan Robson put the visitors ahead after three minutes. Liverpool overturned that lead late in the first half: Peter Beardsley equalised in the thirty-eighth minute and Gary Gillespie scored three minutes later. Steve McMahon then struck from outside the penalty area immediately after the interval to make it 3–1.
Alex Ferguson introduced Jesper Olsen and Norman Whiteside before United lost Colin Gibson to a second booking around the hour. Whiteside himself was booked for a challenge on McMahon, while Olsen hit the crossbar. Liverpool's extra man did not prevent the visitors from creating the chances they needed.
Robson scored again in the sixty-sixth minute, his shot deflected beyond Bruce Grobbelaar. Gordon Strachan completed the recovery thirteen minutes from time, running through to finish past the goalkeeper. He celebrated in front of the Kop by pretending to smoke a cigar.
Liverpool finished the afternoon on 77 points from 33 matches, United on 66 from 35.