Ranking the 5 Fiercest Premier League Rivalries Right Now
Everyone loves a grudge match. There's nothing like 90 minutes of league action, where two clubs are not only hoping for three points, but also that the opposition are battered into submission, suffer red cards, lose all manner of discipline and set themselves off on a losing run which can ruin a season.
Whether due to geographical proximity, challenging for similar objectives in the league season, a big-name transfer between the two clubs or any other reason, clubs and fanbases developing big rivalries is a fact of modern day football, much as it has ever been.
In deciding the fiercest rivalries in the Premier League right now, criteria taken into account included the above factors, but perhaps most pertinently was that of what objectives the two clubs have for the season.
Nobody would doubt that Newcastle United and Sunderland share a full-blooded rivalry, but with those two being the worst and second-worst of the sides who didn't get relegated from the Premier League this season, at present they cannot lay claim to being one of the biggest or fiercest.
Here are the five that can...
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
1 of 5We'll start with one of the biggest of all from the Premier League era: Manchester United and Arsenal.
While once they both vied for the title on a regular basis, the Gunners' trophies have long since dried up. Nowadays they merely try to keep pace with the competition for as long as possible—then sell them their best players at season's end.
Kolo Toure, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy went to Manchester City, but it was the sale of Robin van Persie to United which rankled the most amongst Arsenal fans.
A golden boot and a league title less than a year later proved the wisdom of the Dutchman's move, but it won't ease tensions between the fans any.
Thankfully, it all should simmer down nicely because Arsenal won't care if Cesc joins United, will they?
Liverpool vs. Everton
2 of 5The Merseyside derby remains one of the most fiercely contested clashes, despite the notably lame exception that took place at the back end of 2012-13.
The Goodison Park clash saw heated exchanges days before kick off, insinuations of diving leveled at Luis Suarez—the striker then doing a diving impression right in front of the Everton manager David Moyes after scoring a goal—and the Everton captain, Phil Neville, being booked for exactly that offence.
A late goal, harshly ruled out, also proved a flashpoint.
No other Premier League fixture has seen more red cards than Liverpool vs. Everton, and with both clubs pushing hard for Champions League spots next season, it should be just as fiercely contested as always.
There will be one change though: Everton will head into the next derby with a new manager in charge for the first time in a decade, while Liverpool will head into the next derby with the same man in charge for two successive league starts for the first time since 2009.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
3 of 5Indisputably the most important rivalry over the last two seasons, Manchesters United and City have been fighting it out for the Premier League title itself, with City victorious a year ago and United being crowned champions this time around.
The blue half have recently propelled themselves into championship contention by way of big spending on top players, something which the red half are quick to point out at every turn. Of course, United's players are signed for hefty fees too, which sometimes gets overlooked.
Either way, these two are the big challengers for the title and next season, with both clubs having new managers in place, should be extremely interesting to see if they continue to push for honours or need a season of transition.
Chelsea vs. Tottenham
4 of 5Two London clubs, both battling for top-four spots in the league and both capable of challenging for domestic and continental trophies—and Andre Villas-Boas manages Spurs, having been sacked by Chelsea last season.
There is no love lost between the two sets of supporters and there appears a shortage of civility between the boardrooms at times too, after the ultimately unsuccessful transfer saga of Luka Modric and a new one that could crop up with Gareth Bale.
Chelsea came third this season after a strong finish, and won a cup to boot, but Spurs are not too far away from being on a similar level to the Blues. A couple of extra signings last summer might have made all the difference in the race for Champions League places.
Next term will potentially add a new twist with AVB coming up against Jose Mourinho in this particular fixture.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham
5 of 5We finish up with an always-fiery and fiercely combative derby, that of North London and Arsenal vs. Tottenham.
The likes of Sol Campbell and Emmanuel Adebayor have felt the wrath of fans for joining one team after playing for the other, and the fact that both clubs are seemingly fighting it out for one Champions League spot between them only heightens the tension.
St. Totteringham's Day came once more this season, on the final day of the campaign no less, and Spurs will be desperate to finally put an end to that hoodoo next term.
It will be just one of many sub-plots to follow in another highly charged derby clash.
