The classic of the English football classics is the one that faces Manchester United and Liverpool. Not only in the current moment, when this Sunday the leadership of the Premier is played at Anfield (United have 36 points and visit the champion Liverpool, who has 33), but historically. They are the rivals par excellence, ahead of their respective citizen derbies (United with City and Liverpool with Everton).
The origin of this rivalry must be sought not only in sports but also in socioeconomic reasons. Manchester and Liverpool, located just 35 miles apart, are the two largest cities in the North West of England, rivals on an industrial and economic level, even more so since the construction of the Manchester Maritime Canal, which allowed Manchester businessmen to stop paying. the high fees to the port of Liverpool.
Manchester United hold the league record, 20, but Liverpool follow 19
This rivalry continues at the football level in the so-called Northwest England Derby. Not surprisingly, United and Liverpool are the two English teams with the most titles. At the league level, United is the club that has won the English championship the most times, 20, but Liverpool is already only one behind the Old Trafford team's record, 19. None other than the legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said it: “For me the derby is against Liverpool, it's because of history”.
Manchester United and Liverpool are the kings of England when it comes to conquered leagues, but also the ones that have won the most titles in Europe. More dominating United in England, more Liverpool internationally. As for their confrontations with each other, 80 wins for United, 67 for Liverpool and 57 draws.
On the worst side of the rivalry, the references of radical fans of both teams to the tragedies of the rival team: the chants of the Liverpool radicals about the Munich tragedy, in which 23 members died on February 6, 1958 United in plane crash; and the chants of United radicals, about the tragedy at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, where on April 15, 1989, 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives due to an avalanche.
THE MANCHESTER UNITED TITLES
LEAGUES 20
FA CUP 12
5 LEAGUE CUP 5
COMMUNITY SHIELD / CHARITY 21
CHAMPIONS 3
EUROPE LEAGUE / UEFA CUP 1
RECOPA 1
EUROPEAN SUPER CUP 1
INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 1
WORLD CLUB 1
THE LIVERPOOL TITLES
LEAGUES 19
FA CUP 7
LEAGUE CUP 8
COMMUNITY SHIELD / CHARITY 15
SUPER CUP (1986) 1
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 6
EUROPE LEAGUE / UEFA CUP 3
EUROPEAN SUPER CUP 4
WORLD CLUB 1