Manchester United vs. Liverpool: Which Fans Hate Their Owner the Most?

This Saturday marks the 182nd installment of the North West Derby. The fierce rivals have a combined 37 league titles between them.

Manchester United and Liverpool compete over everything on and off the pitch. Take a look at their American owners, United’s Glazer Family and Liverpool’s former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Both groups took control of their respected clubs only to face intense scrutiny and outright protests from the fans.

Let’s find out which storied club comes out on top in this battle of fed up football fans. 

Liverpool: Tom Hicks and George Gillett

When Tom Hicks and George Gillett became the owners of Liverpool in 2007, fans were excited by promises of more trophies and a new stadium. The honeymoon, however, was short lived after Liverpool fans filed to get a stadium and the club failed to win any trophies under the Hicks and Gillett.

The Americans' general ignorance of English and Football culture did not win them any fans. After hearing that Steven Gerard was going to marry his partner Alex, Gillett told Hicks, "Tom, there's something you need to know. Our team captain is gay." (In England, “partner” can refer to someone of the opposite sex) Benitez, asking him about transfer spending, famously responded, “"I'll give you £50million plus whatever we get in the draft".”

Liverpool fans were so vocal about their dissatisfaction with the owners that Gillett sold his shares after his family received death threats. Hicks, on the other hand, proved to be a little more stubborn, but was eventually forced to sell the club a short while later. 

Manchester United: The Glazer Family

The Glazers owned 2.9 percent of Manchester United back in 2003. Two years and $1.5 billion later, they become Manchester United’s top shareholder with 98 percent ownership. The costly takeover bid left the Glazers with substantial debt, and Manchester United fans, already unsettled by a new Yank owner, were furious when they found out that the Glazer would split the debt between themselves and their club.

The people of Manchester disliked the Americans from the beginning, so much so that they seceded from the club and formed their own: F.C. United of Manchester.

Those who stayed have been openly protesting the Glazers for years. Their “Love United, Hate Glazer,” campaign posts graffiti and stickers all over Manchester, including Old Trafford. Fans proudly sport green and yellow scarves—the club's colors before they became the Red Devilsin protest of their hated owner.

The Verdict: Liverpool

Liverpool fans’ hatred materialized into the ousting of two hated figures. They have begun a fresh start with a new owner, new manager and a couple of new talented players.

Manchester United’s situation really isn’t all that bad. The club has continued to win trophies, they have reduced their debt and the Glazer family has been lauded by chief executive David Gill for “running the club the right way.”

If there is any question about which storied clubs hates their owner most, I think the video addressed to Mr. Hicks answers it.