Each team in the Premier League plays 38 games a season but there are some matches between some teams that hold extra significance. Some matches carry more weight than others sometimes between two teams that aren’t even title contenders in that season. Some are local derbies while some extend beyond the geographical location of the clubs. Here, we talk about the top 5 biggest rivalries in top-flight English football.
5. Liverpool vs Everton
This match-up is also called the Merseyside Derby due to the location of the two clubs in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Less than a mile separates Liverpool’s Anfield from Everton’s Goodison Park on either side of Stanley Park, so the proximity adds another dimension to the rivalry. Their home stadiums are within sight of each other. It is the longest-running top-flight derby in English football; it started as far back as the 1800s and has been played continuously since the 1962/1963 season.
How did the rivalry start?
Initially, Everton, founded in 1878 was the only club in the City of Liverpool and they even played their home matches at Anfield between 1884 and 1892.
A dispute between board members and the club chairman John Houlding who also owned Anfield caused Everton to vacate Anfield and purchase Goodison Park. Houlding then founded Liverpool FC in response and that was how the rivalry started.
Once nicknamed the friendly derby because of the number of families with both Liverpool and Everton supporters, it has become “less friendly” in recent years as the rivalry has intensified since the 80s
Nowadays it’s not as important as some of the other rivalries on this list as it holds more of a local relevance and historical than a global one. Liverpool has pulled away from Everton in recent years, now looking at Manchester City, Man United, and Chelsea as their biggest games of the season while for Everton, their match versus Liverpool is still their biggest fixture in the season.
In terms of performance, the clubs have met a total of 292 times across all competitions in history. Liverpool is ahead in the derby with 123 wins against Everton’s 83. The remaining 86 matches ended in a draw. Recently, the results have been heavily skewed in favour of Liverpool. The Reds have won four of their last six meetings and drawn one while Everton has only won one. Liverpool have also won more trophies in the past 10 years.
4. Arsenal vs Tottenham ( The North London Derby)
These North London clubs were considered the biggest and best clubs in London until the rise of Abramovich’s Chelsea in the early 2000s. Arsenal vs Tottenham is always a spectacle to watch and it holds a special significance to both players and fans. The rivalry is tied to their proximity to each other. Nowadays it doesn’t have much significance in the Premier League as it is more of a local rivalry.
The teams have played 66 games since 1995. Arsenal has won 27, the Spurs have won 15, and 24 of those matches have ended in a draw. Arsenal vs Tottenham is always a match to look forward to in the Premier League because of the extra emotion the rivalry brings; it just adds more color and excitement to the match.
3. Chelsea vs Arsenal (London Derby)
Chelsea vs Arsenal is one of the biggest rivalries in the Premier League. The rivalry which started as just a London Derby between two London clubs escalated in the early 2000s after Abramovich’s takeover of Chelsea. The rivalry peaked in the early 2000s, when for a brief time both teams were the best in the country and it even extended to their coaches at the time; Arsene Wenger and José Mourinho.
The clubs have met a total of 208 times with 82 ending in victory for Arsenal while Chelsea has won 66. 60 of the matches ended in a draw (as of October 21, 2023). Arsenal has won more trophies in total but since the 2000s, Chelsea has won more, while Arsenal has never won an European trophy. Chelsea on the other hand boasts four; two Europa League titles and two Champions League titles since the turn of the century.
Arsenal vs Chelsea is a match that holds special significance; it determines the color of London.
2. Manchester United vs Liverpool
Probably the biggest rivalry in the Premier League, Manchester United vs Liverpool represents a contest between the two most successful clubs in England. With 39 league titles between them (United 20, Liverpool 19) and nine Champions League titles (United 3, Liverpool, 6) it’s a fixture between two English football powerhouses. No player has moved between the clubs since 1964; that’s how intense it is.
The decline of Manchester United has reduced its significance in the Premier League race but it’s still a spectacle that holds special importance to fans and shareholders. So much so that Manchester United fans staged a walkout of the stadium on October 24, 2021, when Liverpool demolished Manchester United 5-0 at Old Trafford. This goes to show that it still holds significance in today’s football at least to the fans. The clubs have met 213 times in total; Manchester United has won 83 times while Liverpool has won 71 times. 59 of the matches ended in a draw.
1. Manchester City vs Liverpool
This is probably the biggest rivalry in the Premier League at the moment. Man City and Liverpool have distinguished themselves as the two best teams in the Premier League in the past five years. Their fixtures have had a significant impact on the premier league title race in recent years. The rivalry extends beyond just clubs; it’s Pep vs Klopp, it’s Salah vs DeByrune, it’s big names and scintillating football. It is probably the most anticipated fixture in the premier league in recent years.
Since 2018, Liverpool has played Man City 20 times and has won seven times while Man City has won five times. Eight of their matches ended in a draw.
Which do you think is the biggest rivalry in the Premier League?