Manchester United and Liverpool have a rivalry that stretches back decades, with an antipathy based not just in football, but much more.
Of course, football is the prism through which we see the current goading and aggravation, but there is more behind it.
During the industrial revolution in Britain, both Liverpool and Manchester flourished due to the trade of goods and slaves abroad, and while they had to cooperate with one another, there was an inherent competition between the two cities.
Liverpool for years have been able to hold over United that they have more European Cups. For all the glory of 1968 and 1999, Liverpool were European greats, dominating eras rather than seasons. Along the way, they also secured more league titles than United managed.
But throughout that period of Liverpool’s obvious superiority, United managed to kick against their opponents on the pitch to score the occasional bloody nose. Back in the days of extensive hooliganism, that antagonism flourished physically. With players like Norman Whiteside and Graeme Sounness, the same is true on the pitch.
But in the 1990s, Liverpool could not maintain their standards, and drifted down the table just as Alex Ferguson was bringing them back up to occupy Liverpool’s effing perch. They claimed a Champions League as part of a treble - never matched by Liverpool - and ultimately took the lead on Premier League titles.
Along the way, too, the roles were further mirrored as Liverpool still managed to get one over United home and away throughout the years despite their less glamorous and generally less talented players.
Despite the refinement of the modern game, the players still are influenced by history. Rafael Da Silva showed his studs to two players in quick succession as a result of Jamie Carragher’s blood-drawing hack on Luis Nani. Fans continue to chant abusive things to one another about dark periods of history, the Hillsborough Disaster and the Munich Air Disaster, and most recently, Luis Suarez’s use of racial language towards Patrice Evra led to some of the most poisonous exchanges between supporters of modern times, and ultimately drew an apology from Liverpool, if not the player himself.
Since that episode, Liverpool have pulled away as United have struggled with post-Ferguson difficulties. Jurgen Klopp has been the only manager in the Premier League to consistently challenge Manchester City’s billions, and produced brilliant and inventive, modern football while winning trophies.
With Erik ten Hag and Klopp off the pace of a title challenge this season, the rivalry could become further embittered now they are direct rivals once again.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United head-to-head record
Manchester United lead in the head-to-head record between the two teams, with 82 wins to Liverpool's 71; the remaining 58 matches have finished as draws.
Manchester United trophy record
Manchester United have won a record 20 League titles, 12 FA Cups, six League Cups, and a record 21 FA Community Shields. They have won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times, and the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup once each
Liverpool trophy record
Domestically, the club has won 19 League titles, eight FA Cups, a record nine League Cups and 16 FA Community Shields. In international competitions, the club has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups—all English records—and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Liverpool’s biggest win against Manchester United
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United, 5 March 2023
Manchester United's biggest win against Liverpool
Manchester United 5-0 Liverpool, 10 December 1946