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Liverpool FC: Seven reasons why the Reds are better than Manchester United

Liverpool v Manchester United is the biggest rivalry in English football, and one of the greatest in the global game.

The two most successful clubs in the country, both sides have a certain preoccupation with what’s going on at the other end of the East Lancs Road.


Down the years, it’s frequently been the case that – like a seesaw – when one team is on the up, the other experiences a dip, as if they are somehow connected.

But which club is the greater of the two?

United fans will disagree, but take a look at the reasoning above to see why Liverpool should come out on top.



7. European success beats English glory – click right for more

7. European success beats English glory – click right for more – What number is more widely known: Real Madrid's 12 European Cups or 33 Spanish titles? The point being that, while domestic success is important, what resonates beyond borders is European success. That's why Liverpool's five European Cups mean more around the football world than Manchester United's 20 League titles. Liverpool were fiercely proud of having won more Leagues than any other English club, until United eclipsed that record, but it's the European tally that counts the most and Liverpool are ahead on that count. While United have had their moments in Europe, they have never become the dominant team of an era, as Liverpool did in the late 1970s and 1980s, putting them alongside the all-time greats like Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern, AC Milan and Barcelona.

6. The Kop is the greatest end in world football

6. The Kop is the greatest end in world football – From its opening in 1906 as a cavernous, open terrace that could hold 20,000 standing, swaying fans, through to its modern incarnation as an all-seater stand holding 12,390 fans, the Spion Kop at Anfield has built a reputation that makes it the most famous end in world football. At its peak it could hold 28,000 Kopites, and without the Kop it is impossible to imagine Anfield carving a reputation for its atmosphere (1965 v Inter, 1977 v St Etienne and 2005 v Chelsea have no comparison in English football). Compare the Kop to Old Trafford's Stretford End (officially, blandly known as the West Stand) which used to have seating at the back even in the old terracing days, and has now been absorbed into the large, but characterless Meccano set redevelopment of United's stadium. The Stretford End is now a two-tier stand identical to the opposite end, while the Kop retained its single bank status when being rebuilt in 1994, giving it an identity which makes for a much more unified, impressive sight.

5. You'll Never Walk Alone is the best football song, bar none

5. You'll Never Walk Alone is the best football song, bar none – You'll Never Walk Alone was originally a musical number, but after Merseyside band Gerry and the Pacemakers scored a number one hit with the tune in 1963, it was made famous as a football anthem by the Kop. Its lyrics  about standing tall when things get tough  are perfect for football supporters, which is why it's subsequently been adopted by fans around the world, most notably Celtic and Borussia Dortmund. It was even sung by the likes of Chelsea for years, difficult as that might be for modern fans to comprehend. Man United's closest equivalent, Glory Glory Man United, was originally sung by Spurs supporters as Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur. It just doesn't compare.

4. Two trebles are better than one

4. Two trebles are better than one – Two years after Man United won a treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, Liverpool clinched a unique treble of their own, becoming the only club to win three knockout cups in a season, claiming the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. To which United fans invariably cry, 'Mickey Mouse treble!' And while no one should try to claim that Liverpool's 2001 haul matches United's '99 campaign, somewhere in all of this the Reds' remarkable 1983/84 season is often forgotten. That was when Liverpool became the first English club to claim a major trophy treble, winning the European Cup (against Roma, in Rome), the League title and the League Cup. Back then, the League Cup was a much more prestigious competition than it is now and, frankly, Liverpool's final success against Everton was a much tougher fixture than United's 1999 FA Cup final against Newcastle. That's before mentioning Liverpool's seven trophy doubles, compared to United's five.

3. Liverpool dominated in a much more competitive era

3. Liverpool dominated in a much more competitive era – When Liverpool were on top, it is fair to say English football was far more competitive, as the distribution of wealth in the league was spread far more evenly among clubs compared to United's successful Ferguson era, when they won the bulk of their silverware. This meant that over the course of Liverpool's golden period, they faced a variety of rivals built on good management, more than mega wealth, from title winning teams like Don Revie's Leeds United and Brian Clough's Derby and Forest in the 1970s, through to Howard Kendall's Everton and George Graham's Arsenal in the 1980s. Of Liverpool's 11 title-winning seasons during this era, there were 10 different runners up, including Arsenal, QPR, Man City, Forest, Man United, Ipswich, Watford, Southampton, Everton and Villa. Those names may not sound fearsome these days, but this was a time when the title race was far more open, which made Liverpool's domestic consistency even more remarkable. Success came from great management, not wealth.

2. Liverpool are the only true Reds

2. Liverpool are the only true Reds – Red shirts, red shorts, red socks. The Reds. Simple. So why do Manchester United insist on referring to themselves as 'the Reds', when they play in white shorts and black socks? Fact is, Liverpool are the Reds, Man United are the Red Devils. That's right, <i>devils</i>  why would you choose the personification of evil as your nickname? Stick to your own unfortunate nickname and stop nicking Liverpool's.

1. Unlike Man United, Liverpool's dominance was a real dynasty

1. Unlike Man United, Liverpool's dominance was a real dynasty – Liverpool's eye-watering haul of 30 trophies in 20 seasons in the 1970s and 1980s was achieved under the management of Bill Shankly then Bob Paisley then Joe Fagan and finally Kenny Dalglish. Each man won multiple trophies, including titles each, while Shankly, Paisley and Fagan all won European silverware (Dalglish's stint coincided with the European ban). The definition of a dynasty is a succession of rulers from the same family. In that sense, Liverpool's continued success, achieved while promoting managers from within, was a dynasty in a way that no other English club has matched before or since. United, by contrast, saw sustained success desert them once Matt Busby left in the 1970s and had no one groomed to replace Ferguson in 2013. While United had two great managers, Liverpool had a real dynasty.