What is on between MU FC and LIVERPOOL FC ?

What is on between MU FC and LIVERPOOL FC ?

Rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool FC is one of the oldest and longest in football history, nearly the same as their fellow companion in Spain between Barcelona FC and Real Madrid.

There are three main subjects that considered as the main spark of the long un-ended rivalry.

Economic sides

Well one of the story was started a long long time ago, back in the 19^th century and not in any connection with football at all.

Manchester and Liverpool is two cities located only 30 miles apart, Manchester was known as “Cottonopolis” due to a wide number of textile industries, some says this is one of the reason of gingham prints in United’s kits last season. On the other hand, Liverpool is benefited from being a port city, where all goods transported to Manchester should goes through its dock, with great number at that time.

In the end of the 19^th century, Manchester has decided to build a ship canal on their own, as the consequences of high transportation charge from Liverpool to Manchester, a deteriorating economic conditions in 1870 and also to help the local industries to stay competitive with the market. This has caused the Liverpool lost their potential income and jobs when ships to Manchester are no longer stopped at their docks.

This has caused a rage in the Liverpool side, especially businessmen and workers who have had their living in the ship docks for many years.

Trophies Rivalry

And so the rivalry goes on, as data shows on Wikipedia.org, totally Manchester United has posses 62 cups starting from FA League, Community shields, UEFA, European cup, etc. While Liverpool gain 59 trophies out of all and only 3 trophies away from Utd’s.

Liverpool dominated English football from 1975 to 1990, winning 11 league championships and four European Cups. Likewise, Manchester United have dominated English football since 1993, winning 13 league championships and two European Cups. During their respective periods of dominance, both clubs enjoyed several seasons in which they won multiple trophies in both domestic and European competitions. (Wikipedia.org, as of May 17, 2014)

Team	League	FA Cup	League Cup	European Cup	UEFA Cup	Cup Winners' Cup	Community Shield	UEFA Super Cup	Intercontinental Cup	Club World Cup	Total
Liverpool	18	7	8	5	3	0	15	3	0	0	59
Manchester United	20	11	4	3	0	1	20	1	1	1	62
Combined	38	18	12	8	3	1	35	4	1	1	121

Player’s Rivalry

Each member of the two teams are also seem to maintain their dislikes between each other. In the 2011-2012 season, Luiz Suarez was fined and banned for eight games upon his racist expression on Patrice Evra’s Utd’s, Wayne Rooney has described how he grew up by hating the Reds, meanwhile Steven Gerrard once says to a film crew  when he showed off his swapped shirts from opposing players after a match routines, that he will never have any Manchester United’s shirts in his home.

Despite of their rivalry through the years, once again it is all about Football and the game loved by many people all around the world, and as an old word saying “the Ball is round, and you’ll never know what will happen next”, As fans let’s just see where it is going, support your favorite but don’t over act it too much and keep it sportive as it should be.

By : Rully R. Prima

Pamulang, 29-Sep-14