Liverpool vs. Manchester United – the epitome of football rivalry
- James M.
- Dec 7, 2016
- 4 min read
The match at Anfield kicks off at 11:00 PM EAT on Monday Night
With an enormous magnitude of abhorrence that could make the Vietnam War look like child play, the clash between Liverpool and Manchester United always sets the stage for the renewal of one of the fiercest encounters in football.
Maybe only rivaled by the Old Firm Derby in Glasgow and the Superclasico in South America, the meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United provides highlights that could make one squirm in fear.
The hatred between the two teams is scaled to unimaginable heights to an extent that it’s suicidal to point out that both teams have the red colour as their home kit.
When he arrived from Aberdeen in the 1980s, Sir Alex Ferguson set himself a target that seemed hard to achieve.
He declared that he was on a mission to “knock Liverpool off their perch.”
Sarcastic smiles would be flashed as a section of Manchester United fans and the whole gang of Liverpool fans thought that the Scottish Knight was out of his mind.
Two decades later, Manchester United had managed to knock Liverpool off their perch after amassing twenty Premier League titles – Liverpool are still grounded at eighteen, and not even the seemingly resurgence under Klopp can change their fortunes for the better.
The power base along M62 had shifted significantly to the astonishment of the Kop.
Jurgen Klopp has won 3 of his 5 matches against Jose Mourinho.
Even though Liverpool leads United in the continental front having won five European Cups (Champions League Trophy), Manchester United who themselves have three of those continental accolades, enjoy a massive fan base in the world as compared to the Merseyside outfit.
The Inter-city rivalry is emblematic of the spells of domestic dominance by both teams.
As the two most successful clubs in English history, it is not hard to see why their fans hate each other with such passion.
But what led to the deep rivalry between the two English sides?
The two cities of Manchester and Liverpool have shared a rivalry that transcends sporting reasons; a cultural rivalry and an industrial enmity shape the relationship between these two football clubs.
During the 18th Century, the city of Manchester was the notable representative of the North due to its populous nature.
With time, the city of Liverpool crept from the shadows of anonymity to claim the title through its economic growth fuelled by the sea port and cotton mills.
It’s United’s 197th encounter with Liverpool and our 91st meeting with them at Anfield
Liverpool rise continued until the commencement of the Manchester Ship Canal.
The project meant that Liverpool would no longer act as the prime docking facility that fed the Manchester populace – in essence, the city of Liverpool lost its prime source of income.
Resentment between the labourers and the working class in both cities was augmented after the project was completed.
To date, the city of Liverpool still holds Manchester responsible for their decline as an economic powerhouse.
As evidenced by the crests on both Manchester United and Manchester City jerseys as well as the Manchester City Council, the stylized ships represent the Manchester Ship Canal.
Liverpool and United have played 25 times, with 10 red cards shown.
Culturally, the populaces of both cities have a totally different set of societal norms – what is held as a cardinal belief in Liverpool may be the exact opposite in Manchester.
As a result, derogatory terms such as scouse – an offensive phrase used by Mancunians to mean someone from Liverpool, have surfaced.
Both cities have a different approach to culture – from music, fashion, literature and politics.
While Liverpool credit themselves as having the upper hand in music due to the Beatles, Manchester take credence for their pioneering role in shaping literature and the political ideologies through artistic ventures.
Actually, the cultural hatred takes the dimensions of a tribal agenda that is fuelled by a deep-rooted mistrust between both sets of fans.
Also known as the Northwest derby, the clash between Manchester United and Liverpool symbolizes the economic fortunes of the cities involved.
The enmity is so bad to an extent that Manchester United players would not recognize Bill Shankly, Paisley, Rafa Benitez, Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush or even Robbie Fowler.
To them, the bunch only represents the negative things associated with Merseyside.
In actuality, you’d be lucky not to be hit with weighty expletives when you mention any Liverpool player when at Old Trafford.
Similarly, expect no accolades from Liverpool when you mention the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and David Beckham et al.
The red half of Merseyside categorizes them as simply a bunch of bandits masquerading as footballers.
Mention any Manchester United player at Anfield and see how frowning unfolds into blows.
United have the best record of any Premier League club at Anfield, with 12 victories.
As a grudge match of enormous proportions, the hatred between the two sets of fans is evident throughout the match – it matters less whether the match is being played at Anfield or at Old Trafford.
Both clubs have felt the devastating nature of death.
Manchester United were the casualties of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 that claimed the lives of eight promising footballers – then known as the Busby Babes.
In 1989, Liverpool were themselves grounded by the Hillsborough Disaster that killed a number of their fans, not forgetting the Heysel Disaster in Belgium during an European Cup final against Juventus.
Despite both sides knowing the cruelty of death, both sets of fans still trade insults that are heavily laden with suggestive messages of mocking the dead players and fans.
The fiery mood can be showcased through the tumultuous incidents over the years that have grabbed the headlines of all major publications; the Suarez vs. Evra racism incident, the stamp on Ander Herrera by Steven Gerrard, the comical but sarcastic celebrations from both sets of players and fans alike, the mockery associated with the commemorations of the Busby Babes and the Hillsborough Disaster et al.
Liverpool have won the last five matches in all competitions
Whenever Manchester United play against Liverpool, expect a percussive and explosive atmosphere blended with obscene gestures from the both the home fans.
Equally, don’t expect the travelling band to take it lying down as a dose for the ingrained antagonism between the two sides.
However, the heated atmosphere that has been crafted by the hostility brings out the best from both sides as well as some not so holy incidents now and then.
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