when liverpool and manchester united meet at anfield on sunday, there will not be a single local lad starting in this iconic fixture for the first time in the premier league era april 26 1992, the final time the two sides met in the old division one, was the last time no player in liverpool's starting xi was born within 30 miles of anfield or a united player within the same distance from old trafford in the 53 league and cup meetings since, the likes of steven gerrard   likely to start from the bench on sunday   jamie carragher, steve mcmanaman and robbie fowler have starred for liverpool, while united's local lads have included paul scholes, gary and phil neville, nicky butt and danny welbeck steven gerrard looks dejected in defeat after liverpool were beaten 3 0 by manchester united last december  local lad james wilson also started that game for manchester united  manchester born danny welbeck tackled by gerrard at anfield last season  jamie carragher (left) and gary nevill during a game at old trafford in march 2010  wayne rooney, a designated scouser, doesn't count (although he was born less than four miles from anfield), while ryan giggs is also excluded as he was born in wales back in april 1992, when liverpool won 2 0 at home, there were 11 english players on the pitch, but none born within 30 miles of either stadium in fact, the closest on that day was rob jones, born 31 miles from anfield   but in wales while lancashire lad mike phelan, born 29 miles from old trafford, came off the bench that day for united liverpool's robbie fowler is sent tumbling by manchester united's nicky butt in march 2001  liverpool players michael owen (left), fowler (centre) and steve mcmanaman celebrate after beating newcastle in the league cup in january 1998  ryan giggs of manchester united goes past liverpool's jonjo shelvey in january 2011  in the most recent encounter between the two sides, a 3 0 home win for united in december, both clubs featured a local lad from the start gerrard began the game for liverpool, while james wilson, born in staffordshire 275 miles away from old trafford, was selected by louis van gaal like gerrard, there is also a possibility that wilson and tyler blackett   also born in manchester   could feature on sunday jon flanagan, meanwhile, will return at some stage from injury to boost the reds' scouse contingent but with the departure of welbeck from united last summer, and gerrard leaving liverpool at the end of the season, the chances are that the trend of no local lads starting the biggest game in english football will continue for a little while longer
james wilson 30 miles sunday tyler blackett first manchester united 23 years steven gerrard the premier league united liverpool
steven gerrard is set to start on the bench for liverpool on sunday  it means no local player (born within 30 miles of their stadium) will start for either side in this game for the first time in 23 years  manchester united travel to face liverpool in the premier league  james wilson and tyler blackett could be on the bench for united 