“I will love it!” 30 years on from the fiery Keegan rant that lit up the 1995/96 Premier League title race

'Slanderous' was how Keegan referenced comments from Ferguson, in the build-up to Newcastle's visit to Leeds. The Scot suggested that both Leeds and Nottingham Forest, Newcastle's upcoming opponents, would not 'try as hard' as they had against his own side.

It was a red rag to a bull.

Sky Sports set the stage, with Richard Keys asking Keegan whether the 'tension' of recent comments had contributed to a slow start at Elland Road.

Cue four minutes of television gold.

“I don’t think you can discount it,” Keegan started.

“A lot of things have been said over the past few days, some of it almost slanderous," he continued, with his voice's volcanic crescendo building.

By now, Keegan was jabbing a finger in the direction of his interviewers: “I’ve kept really quiet, but I’ll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that. We have not resorted to that.

"You can tell him now, we’re still fighting for this title, and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.”

Keegan's heartfelt hurl at Ferguson and Manchester United had not been preplanned, a spontaneous speech intended to inspire. For Ferguson, it's hard not to envision that he watched on with a wry smile. His title race grenade, tossed towards Tyneside, had exploded.

Manchester United did, indeed, go to Middlesbrough and get something, with three points sealing Premier League title success. Newcastle failed to win either of their final two games, with the club's collapse widely regarded as the Premier League's greatest.

Title races forevermore will reference Keegan. Some suggest the outburst was the final dagger in Newcastle's title dream, unnerving his own squad, and fuelling Ferguson's side for their trip to the North East.

Others, rightly, suggest the damage had been done long before. Regardless, it's aPremier League