The north’s great football rivalries
by Northern Life
Football rivalries are some of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures on the British sporting calendar. Clashes between the London clubs and derbies elsewhere in the country are always gripping and entertaining. But nothing compares to how we do it in the north. These are some of the greatest rivalries in English football.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
This is widely considered one of the most iconic football fixtures in the country. It’s not just a contest between close neighbours, but the two most successful clubs in English history. Two teams sporting red, each with a rich archive of domestic and European glory.
Meetings between Liverpool and Manchester United are often tense, hard-fought and occasionally explosive. The passion and significance of this rivalry are palpable in every fixture and amplified in their iconic stadiums: Anfield and Old Trafford.
Success has swung both ways over the years. Liverpool’s dominance in the 1970s and 80s under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley was followed by United’s defining era in the 1990s and 2000s under Sir Alex Ferguson.
More recent seasons saw Klopp’s Liverpool become a resurgent force. A 7-0 thrashing at Anfield in 2023 represents the rise of the new Liverpool and the fall of United. Now, Arne Slot continues this momentum – most recently with a 0-3 win at Old Trafford.
Manchester City vs Manchester United
The Manchester Derby wasn’t always a showstopper. United were the dominant team in the city for a long while, overshadowing their neighbours in blue. But City’s spectacular rise over the last 15 or so years has made the derby ever more tantalising.
This new era of competition between the Manchester clubs has brought a different edge to English football. United’s history is brimming with success, but City’s run of four Premier League titles in a row is up among the greatest streaks of all time.
Many would argue that this derby doesn’t have the history and intensity behind it like some others. But recent years have seen some spectacular footballing moments. The final day of the 2011/12 season was one of the greatest in recent times, with Sergio Aguero scoring a 94th-minute winner to take City to the title over United on goal difference. Goosebumps, every time.
Leeds United vs Manchester United
Yorkshire vs Lancashire. White rose vs red rose. Leeds vs Man U. This rivalry stems from something much deeper than football. Separated by just 40 miles of motorway, the friction between these two teams has been running deep for decades.
The peak of the competition between these two was in the 1960s and 70s when both tussled for supremacy in English football. Despite Leeds’ long spell out of the top flight, the animosity between the fans is still there. One day we hope this rivalry will shine as it once did over 50 years ago.
