The Biggest Game in the EPL

Monday Night Football this week has the Biggest Club Game in the English Premier League.

Its Liverpool V Manchester United.

Some people have been asking me "What is all this fuss about? Liverpool has not won The Premier League at all. And they have not been Champions for 26  years now."

The Answer to this lies in many reasons.

The First and the foremost reason is the proximity.

The cities of Liverpool and Manchester are located in the north west of England, 35 miles (56 km) apart. Since the industrial revolution there has been a consistent theme of rivalry between the two cities based around economic and industrial competition. Manchester through to the 18th century was the far more populous city, and held a position of significance and notability as representative of the north. By the late 18th century, Liverpool had grown as a major sea port – critical to the growth and success of the northern cotton mills. Over the next century, Liverpool grew to supersede Manchester and throughout the late 19th and early 20th century was often described as the British Empire's second city.

In Footballing terms, The two clubs are the most successful English teams in both domestic and European competitions; and between them they have won 38 league titles, 8 European Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 4 UEFA Super Cups, 19 FA Cups, 12 League Cups, 1FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 36 FA Community Shields.

Liverpool was the dominant club in 70’s & 80’s winning 11 League titles & 4 European Cups between 1970 to 1990, while Manchester United drew blanks in that period. Still much to the discord of the Liverpool fans United was considered “The Glam Team” & Liverpool was considered  “A Workman like Team.”

All that changed in the Premier League Era under Sir Alex Fergusson when United won a record 13 Premier League Titles & 2 Champions League Trophies. While Liverpool have not been champions of England now for 26  years.

Indeed when United Over took Liverpool to the English Champions for the record 19 th time in 2011, entire Manchester celebrated.

United now claims to be the most successful English Club with 20 league titles to Liverpool’s 18. Liverpool though claims to be more successful as they have won 5 European Cups to United’s 3.

Indeed so intense is the rivalry between the 2 clubs that in 2014 when Liverpool were edged out by Manchester City to be the Champions even the United Fans celebrated.

In the Fergusson Era United Fans often used to ridicule Liverpool due to their lack of trophies, now United fans fear they will go through the same period.

And from this season there is an added dimension to the rivalry as the managers Klopp & Mourinho have had famous battles in Champions League managing Borussia Dortmond & Real Madrid.

Indeed this rivalry is in for some exciting times.