It is time to sharpen your swords and test your bows and arrows, as the real war in English football is about to erupt, and it’s coming on faster than you can say the words Chelsea or Arsenal. 

The long-standing hatred and loathing between Manchester United (absolute good) and Liverpool (total evil) is matched in intensity only by the medieval city-state conflicts between Florence and Siena, or the current sporting enmity between Barcelona and Real Madrid - the fires of which were fanned in the Spanish civil war.

For more than 60 years post-war English football has centered on the competitive spirit between these two clubs. From time to time the rivalry has been briefly interrupted by skirmishes with the likes of Arsenal, Leeds and more recently Chelsea. However, as both sets of Lancashire fans know, the tussles with such lesser fare amount to little more than seasoned gladiators training against pygmies.

'As both sets of Lancashire fans know, the tussles with such lesser fare amount to little more than seasoned gladiators training against pygmies'


Following Liverpool’s recent resurgence after a decade-and-a-half in the shadows, both combatants have been flush with cash and rearming at an alarming rate. The conflict will be renewed with ferocious intensity and is poised to go nuclear.

The cities of both clubs were ravaged by German blitzes in WW2, and it was Liverpool who were first off the mark after the war, capturing the First Division title in the 1946-47 season while United took second place that season under Matt Busby (himself a former Liverpool player who had been widely tipped to become their manager).

After three second-place finishes, Busby finally seized title in 1952 then went on to build the famous Busby Babes. The decade was one of severe decline for Liverpool who were relegated to the Second Division in 1954.  Following the devastating 1958 Munich air crash, Busby started to fashion a new side that United fans expected would lead the English game once again and conquer all of Europe. During this period the old enemy from down the Mersey were largely forgotten.

Nevertheless, as Mancunians scornfully witnessed the Beatles dominate the world music scene in a matter of months, with their Please Please Me album, fellow Scot Bill Shankly had quietly crafted a new Liverpool team that won promotion back to the top flight in 1962.

Liverpool stunned United by winning the league title in 1964 and 1966, and the FA Cup in 1965, while United responded with championship victories in 1965 and 1967, and a 1963 FA Cup win. The 1967 league campaign was the springboard for United’s ascendancy in the sixties as the Red Devils went on to win the 1968 European Cup final following a thrilling victory over Benfica, while the Scousers repeatedly cracked on the European stage. Those were heady days with United sporting George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, while Liverpool fans exulted over Ian St John, Roger Hunt and Ian Callaghan.

The next two decades went hands down to Liverpool. Following Sir Matt Busby’s retirement United’s fortunes waned, culminating with a one-season spell in the Second Division under Tommy Docherty. Towards the end of Shankly’s reign, Liverpool won the UEFA Cup (1973), and FA Cup in 1974. Shankly’s retirement came as a shock to the Kop faithful, and the affable Bob Paisley took over.

Many reckoned that Paisley would be unable to keep Liverpool’s fires burning bright, but in fact his appointment heralded the most successful period in the club’s history. Paisley guided the reds to a league and UEFA Cup double in 1976, then clinched Liverpool’s first-ever European Cup the next year against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Liverpool also retained the league championship, but were thwarted in their bid for a ground-breaking treble thanks only to a narrow United victory in the 1977 FA Cup final.

Liverpool conjured up another European Cup triumph the next season against Bruges, followed by a third Euro title in 1981 over Real Madrid. Paisley’s Liverpool cruised through to additional league title successes in the last two season of his reign. Any thoughts that the pace would slow down were cast aside as Joe Fagan who took over guided the team to European and domestic titles in 1983-4.

The 1985 defeat against Juventus was marred by the tragic events in the Heysel stadium, leading to a ban on English clubs participation in Europe. Following two seasons in charge, Fagan made way for Kenny Dalglish who continued to collect the silverware at domestic level bagging three league titles and two FA Cups.

United, meanwhile were beginning to make their presence felt again with FA Cup victories under Ron Atkinson in 1983 and 1985. United were poised to win the league in 1986 but flunked a 10-point lead that left Liverpool victorious once more.  A poor start the following season lead to Atkinson’s dismissal and the appointment of Alex Ferguson. United at that point seemed completely impotent – unable to win the league for over 20 years, while Liverpool had dominated the competition and collected a slew of European titles with astonishing ease.

Ferguson made a mediocre start with three bare seasons before saving his career by winning the FA Cup in 1990. Victory the next campaign in the European Cup Winners Cup against Barcelona was a foretaste of a new charmed period. Liverpool secured what was to be their last league title in 1990, with Dalglish bowing out the next season. Graeme Souness was appointed in his place, and despite an FA Cup win in 1992 it was evident that they were not the force of old.

United’s purchase of Eric Cantona was the catalyst that finally secured the club’s first league title since 1967 and the first of nine such title triumphs under Ferguson. United also won the FA Cup four more times – including a 1-0 victory in the 1996 Final against Liverpool. While United flew high in advancing to their second European Champions’ Cup win at the end of a stirring treble season in 1999, Liverpool fans had to content themselves with a sprinkling of UEFA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup wins under managers Roy Evans and then Gerard Houllier. It was clearly the Scousers' turn to witness life in the shadows again.

A stunning comeback by Benitez's Liverpool in the 2005 European Cup Final over AC Milan suggested that the good days were set to return to Anfield, but in the league they continued to be eclipsed by United, as well as Chelsea and Arsenal. Following the Gillett and Hicks purchase Liverpool at long last have the financial muscle to compete with United, and a manager resourceful enough to reverse the balance of power.

The prospect of an all-English European Champions League final duel between the two sides at the end of last season failed to materialise following United’s crash against Milan, but it brought into sharp focus just how frightening it would be for either set of fans to lose such a match. For me as a die-hard United fan the possibility clarified just how much my love for United and near-hatred of Liverpool has defined my relationship with football. The irony is that Liverpool fans are now totally obsessed with winning the league, while United fans speculate how to equal or better Liverpool’s European record.

Putting aside for a moment the bitter rivalry, no other two English clubs have provided the fans with as many enthralling moments as United and Liverpool over the last six decades, and the players of both sides are without equal in defining the enduring values of the English game.

Nevertheless, it must be remembered that Ferguson was brought to United to engage and finally vanquish the kingdom of Shankly and Paisley. The job is not done. Arise Sir  Alex, it’s time to press that red button.