Manchester United
Liverpool Football Club and Manchester United Football Club represent two of the most successful and storied institutions in English football history. Liverpool was formed in 1892 following a disagreement over rent at Anfield, while Manchester United originated as Newton Heath LYR F.C. in 1878. Both clubs compete in the Premier League and call the northwest of England home, with Liverpool playing at Anfield and United at Old Trafford. Together, these rivals have accumulated an extraordinary 137 major trophies between them, including 40 league titles, 21 FA Cups, and nine European Cups/UEFA Champions Leagues. Their rivalry, known as the Northwest Derby, is considered one of the fiercest in world football, fueled by the historic economic competition between their respective cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
History
Overview
General information about the club
The rivalry between Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C. represents one of the most significant fixtures in English football. Both clubs have established themselves as the most successful teams in English football history, with their combined trophy haul of 137 major honors demonstrating their sustained excellence over more than a century. The rivalry extends beyond football, rooted in the historic economic and industrial competition between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, located 35 miles apart in northwest England.
Most recent season and achievements
As of April 2025, Liverpool leads in terms of total trophies won with 69 to United's 68, while United maintains the advantage in head-to-head encounters with 83 wins to Liverpool's 72, with 61 matches ending in draws. Both clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League, maintaining their status among England's elite alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham.
History
Early years
Manchester United was formed in Newton Heath in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR F.C., playing their first competitive match in October 1886 when they entered the 1886-87 FA Cup. Liverpool F.C. came into existence in 1892 following a disagreement between Everton's board and club president John Houlding over rent at Anfield. When Everton moved to Goodison Park, Houlding founded Liverpool to play at the vacated stadium.
The first meeting between the clubs occurred in 1894 in a Football League test match at Ewood Park in Blackburn. Liverpool, as Second Division champions, defeated bottom-placed First Division side Newton Heath 2-0, earning promotion while condemning Newton Heath to relegation.
Successful period
Liverpool won their first Football League Championship in 1901 and followed up in 1906, the same season that saw the newly renamed Manchester United promoted to the top flight. United secured their first league title in 1907-08, winning by nine points, and followed this with the first-ever FA Charity Shield in 1908 and the 1909 FA Cup Final.
After World War I, Liverpool won consecutive league championships while United struggled, eventually being relegated in 1923. Between 1923 and World War II, neither team won competitive trophies beyond regional honors, with United spending three separate periods in the Second Division.
Crisis and recovery
Following World War II, the clubs' fortunes alternated dramatically. Liverpool won the championship in 1947 before United found stability under former Liverpool captain Matt Busby, winning the FA Cup in 1948 and three league titles in the 1950s. Meanwhile, Liverpool dropped to the second tier in 1954.
After Liverpool's promotion under Bill Shankly in 1962, the clubs entered direct competition, sharing four league titles between 1964 and 1967. However, United's 1967 title would be their last for 26 years, while Liverpool enjoyed 19 years of sustained success from 1973 to 1992, winning 11 league titles, 19 domestic cups, and seven European trophies.
Current period
Manchester United's 26-year spell without a league title was replicated and exceeded by Liverpool from 1990 to 2020. During this period, United dominated English football under Alex Ferguson, winning 13 league titles, 23 domestic cups, and five European trophies. Liverpool's league title drought finally ended in 2020 under Jürgen Klopp, though they found consolation in European competitions, winning the Champions League in 2005 and 2019.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Between them, Liverpool and Manchester United have won 40 league titles, 21 FA Cups, 16 League Cups, and 37 FA Community Shields. Liverpool built their dominance through the Anfield Boot Room dynasty, with managers like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, and Kenny Dalglish maintaining consistent success over three decades.
Continental and global competitions
The clubs have combined for nine European Cups/UEFA Champions Leagues, four UEFA Cups, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, five UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, and two FIFA Club World Cups. Liverpool's European success includes victories in 2005 under Rafael Benítez and 2019 under Klopp, while United's European Cup triumph in 1968 under Busby made them the first English team to win European football's top prize.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The crests of both Manchester and Manchester United include stylized ships representing the Manchester Ship Canal and the city's trade roots. This ship symbol also appears on the crest of many other Mancunian institutions, including Manchester City Council.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Both clubs are known as "the Reds," reflecting their traditional red home kit colors that have become synonymous with their identities in English football.
Traditional club anthem
Information about specific club anthems is not provided in the source material.
Traditional Rivals
Liverpool F.C.
The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool is considered their biggest rivalry, even above their local derbies with Manchester City and Everton respectively. The modern rivalry truly developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s when United had developed a "glamour and media profile" without matching success, while Liverpool fans felt United were "media darlings who got far too much publicity." This led to Liverpool fans giving United the derisory nickname "The Glams."
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Specific sponsor information is not detailed in the source material.
Nicknames
Both clubs are commonly referred to as "the Reds" due to their red kit colors. Liverpool fans historically called Manchester United "The Glams" during the late 1970s and early 1980s, reflecting their perception that United received disproportionate media attention relative to their success.
Ownership and finances
Both clubs have experienced controversial ownership changes. The 2005 leveraged takeover of Manchester United by the Glazer family created significant fan opposition, leading to the creation of F.C. United of Manchester and the "Love United Hate Glazer" movement. Liverpool underwent its own controversial takeover in 2007 when Chairman David Moores sold to American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, eventually leading to a forced sale to Fenway Sports Group in 2010.
Traditions and culture
Liverpool built their success through the Anfield Boot Room dynasty, where strategy was planned and future managers were developed. The Boot Room connection lasted 32 years from Shankly's arrival in 1959 until 1991. In contrast, Manchester United's success came in three distinct eras under Ernest Mangnall, Matt Busby, and Alex Ferguson, with 56 of their 68 trophies won under these three managers.
Stadium
Liverpool plays at Anfield, the stadium they inherited when the club was founded in 1892 after Everton's departure. Manchester United plays at Old Trafford, though they originated in Newton Heath. The rivalry has produced memorable encounters at both venues, including Liverpool's record 7-0 victory at Anfield in March 2023 and United's heaviest home defeat to Liverpool, a 5-0 loss at Old Trafford in October 2021.