Liverpool vs. Manchester United: Breaking Down the Bitter Rivalry

Liverpool and Manchester United; it's about as big, deep and historical as rivalries get in England.

The Reds, with Everton, and the Red Devils, with Manchester City, have their own local derbies to worry about—but LFC vs. MUFC gets the pulses racing in a way that few other games can.

Pride on the pitch is one thing, but the rivalry between these two clubs runs much deeper than a measly three points—though, in any given match, that is exactly what each team wants to win.

Here are some of the biggest reasons why the rivalry between England's two most successful clubs is as bitter as it is.

Massive Fanbases

Both Liverpool and Manchester United lay claim to huge, global fanbases.

Aside from being the dominant team of their own cities with national supporters, they also outstrip all other big clubs across Asia, Africa and North America combined, including Arsenal, Chelsea and more recently Manchester City—all clubs who found more recent supporters after relative domestic success.

Liverpool and Manchester United both have over 200 official supporters clubs worldwide, in over 30 and 25 different countries respectively.

There is a vast difference in the available capacity of either side for home matches though, where United rake in millions more than Liverpool every game.

Anfield holds slightly more than 45,500 supporters, whilst Old Trafford can contain close to 76,000.

By way of comparison, Chelsea's 2012 post-Champions League triumph parade through the streets of London saw an estimated 60,000 supporters take to the streets.

When Liverpool achieved the same feat in 2005, more than one million fans took in the parade as they celebrated.

History and Success

Above all else, Liverpool and Manchester United have existed to win trophies.

United were successful during the 1950's and 60's, Liverpool dominated the 70's and 80's and United have been on top again for two decades since the early 1990's.

Never, really, have the two sides clashed for top honours at the same time; they have cycled and battled and held "top dog" status for an era, before succumbing once more to their rivals.

Liverpool won their first top flight title, the old First Division, back in 1900-01. United achieved the feat less than a decade later, winning theirs in 1907-08.

These are two sides with genuine, tangible history.

Record Chasers

Amongst all that history and success, plenty of records have been made and broken, won and lost along the way.

Most recent of all, of course, Liverpool's long-standing record of 18 championship victories was surpassed by Manchester United, who won their 19th in 2010-11, having trailed Liverpool previously since 1967.

In the other major prizes of the game, Liverpool have won seven FA Cups and eight (current record-high) League Cups compared to United's 11 (current record-high) and four.

Liverpool lead in the European prizes though, with five Champions League titles to United's three, and three UEFA Cups (now Europa League) and three European Super Cups to United's single Cup Winners' Cup and solitary Super Cup.

Proximity of Cities

Less than 35 miles (56km) separates the two cities of Liverpool and Manchester.

Though not technically a derby of a city, the two North West giants are so close that fans spill over territories and are neighbours and family alike.

Ease of access between the two cities no doubt adds to the feeling of close proximity, with a short 40 minute drive between one location and the other.

Rivalries between North West and London sides are famous, with Liverpool-Chelsea and Manchester United-Arsenal being Premier League-specific examples, but the Reds and the Red Devils have more bitterness towards each other than any or all of the London clubs combined.

Working-Class Roots

The 19th century industrial revolution came at a time when Liverpool and Manchester were both thriving, working-class cities full of passionate football supporters.

Hard men, working on the docks in Liverpool or in the textile trade in Manchester, would frequent pubs after work and the football stadium at the weekend.

Hooliganism was rife at times during the '80s in football-England, but there was just pure bitterness and even hatred between the fans when these two clubs met.

Look online for sources if you will, or take the information second-hand from a generation-too-late lifelong supporter; United and Liverpool fans would clash after the match and batter each other.

Fanbases have changed; football has become more global and the average, working-class fan has been somewhat priced out of going to the game on a regular basis.

But the rivalry has been passed down nonetheless.

It might have different meanings and reasons for the more modern-day fan, but it has certainly been around longer than they have.

Managerial Clashes

Kenny Dalglish, recently-departed Liverpool manager, and Alex Ferguson—then, now and still of Manchester United—had many a verbal spat down the years, during the late 1980s and then again for 18 months more recently.

Whilst it was never overly feudal in nature, not on the level of Benitez-Allardyce, Jol-Wenger or Ferguson-Wenger, it was definitely present and subtle.

Whether its Dalglish commenting that reporters would get more sense out of talking to his young daughter than to Ferguson, or Fergie remonstrating that Dalglish and Liverpool in general should show more respect, the two always offered soundbites about the other.

Turn the clock back two years and it was rather different, with incoming manager Roy Hodgson blithely announcing that he hoped his friend Alex Ferguson wouldn't be too disappointed at the Englishman's appointment as Reds manager.

"

I’m a bit ­concerned about my excellent relationship with him. I sincerely hope he forgives me for moving north and hopefully we can have a glass of wine together, maybe in secret. I hope that’s how he is going to see it – but he is one of the people I intend to ring to find out.

"

Just what Liverpool fans want to hear. Pandering to the rivals' boss.

Before that, of course, it was Rafa Benitez's infamous list.

And so on.

Next up is Brendan Rodgers, who will face Ferguson and United for the first time as Liverpool manager on 23rd September at Anfield.

On-Pitch Battles

And so, finally, to the games themselves.

Whether it's three points at stake or qualification to the next round of the cups, Liverpool vs. Manchester United matches are fiery, fierce, tempestuous and tense affairs all-round.

Often exciting, sometimes cagey, it requires only a moment's brilliance or a single mistake for a player to make themselves a hero and score the winning goal.

John O'Shea's late Kop-end winner at Anfield, Dirk Kuyt's hat trick. Liverpool's 4-1 Old Trafford rout, United's 4-0 win after Sami Hyypia's early dismissal. Neil Ruddock's header, Eric Cantona's volley. Robbie Fowler's blonde bombshell brace.

Heroes, memorable moments cherished forever, every one of them.

FA Cup finals, end-of-season battles, red cards aplenty and provoking referees.

Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Nemanja Vidic and Nemanja Vidic again have all seen red in this fixture.

This game isn't going to die down or go easily.

United are still one of the strongest two sides in England.

With Brendan Rodgers at the helm, Liverpool are rebuilding and aim to get back to the same level—and maybe, this time, we'll see both teams from this epic rivalry going hell-for-leather to win trophies...at the same time.

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