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What Are the Biggest Premier League Rivalries in 2023?

Amelia WalkerBy Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 09 June 2023
Amelia Walker Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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Players for Liverpool and Manchester United

The Premier League is the top-level soccer league in England, featuring 20 clubs that compete against each other twice a season. The biggest Premier League rivalries are exciting feuds between teams that have a history of intense matches, often fueled by regional pride, tradition, or past encounters.

In today’s post, we’re going to be exploring the world of English soccer rivalries, showing you the most heated and intense of all of those in the EPL.

Best Premier League Rivalries

The Premier League is hugely competitive, but the best Premier League rivalries take things to another level. These rivalries add excitement and passion to the games, as fans from both sides show their support and cheer for their teams.

Some of the most famous Premier League rivalries include the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, the Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, and the Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton. These are all rivalries we’ll be covering on this page about English Premier League rivalries.

English Premier League Rivalries: Are They Similar To US Rivalries?

English Premier League rivalries are a key part of the exciting world of soccer and can be traced back for as long as the game’s been played. While rivalries come from a number of places, they’re usually formed as a result of teams being based close to each other, historical events, or specific match outcomes.

Rivalries can impact the game in quite a few ways. On one hand, they boost the sport’s appeal, attracting fans globally. A rivalry match usually highlights the best of soccer – skill, passion, and drama. What’s more, these games can bring fans together, as they all want the same result and will cheer their team on as much as they can.

However, rivalries can sometimes lead to poor behavior, like hooliganism and violence. Racist rhetoric towards players unfortunately still occurs, and not only does this greatly affect the players, but it also does huge amounts of damage to the sport’s reputation. Overall, EPL rivalries in England are far more intense than rivalries in US sports.

Despite the drawbacks, rivalries remain a vital part of the Premier League. They definitely make the game more popular with fans from around the world, and they’ve created plenty of unforgettable soccer moments. To kick things off, we’re going to look at the Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry, and what started it.

Liverpool vs Man United: The North West Derby

The Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry is a classic example of two giants clashing. With 39 league titles combined, they dominated English soccer for decades. This fierce competition, often referred to as the North West Derby, pits two of England’s most successful and historical clubs against each other.

The rivalry goes beyond the soccer field, as it also represents a clash between two proud cities with rich histories and different identities: Liverpool and Manchester. This is why there’s always a very heavy police presence around these games, as it’s not unusual for things to get out of control with the fans.

With each team winning a huge number of trophies and championships over the years, this has only fueled the rivalry, as each team desperately wants to prove its dominance over the other. When Liverpool and Manchester United play, it’s always a highly anticipated event, with spectators coming from all parts of England and further afield.

The Liverpool-Manchester United derby has produced numerous memorable moments, with legendary players like Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Kenny Dalglish, and Paul Scholes playing in memorable games. These matches are often defined by dramatic goals, debatable red cards, and other unforgettable incidents. Check out a list of how both teams compare in terms of accomplishments below:

Liverpool Manchester United
League Titles: 19 League Titles: 20
European Cups: 6 European Cups: 3
League Cups: 9 League Cups: 6
FA Cups: 8 FA Cups: 12

Liverpool vs Man City: A Significant Rivalry

When you think of English Premier League rivalries, Liverpool-Manchester City may not instantly come to mind. While not as historic as the Liverpool-United rivalry, it has gotten much fiercer in recent years. A lot of this stems from the rise of Manchester City.

The emergence of Manchester City as a major player, after their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, has only made this rivalry even more intense. City has enjoyed a huge level of investment and has a near-endless amount of cash available to them. This allows them to make super-high-profile signings. Liverpool have been their biggest rivals in recent years.

Some memorable moments in the Liverpool-Manchester City rivalry include the 2018 UEFA Champions League quarter-final, where Liverpool beat City in both legs, and we can’t forget the insane 4-3 Premier League match in 2018, which saw Liverpool end City’s unbeaten run in the season.

The rivalry has featured some of the world’s most iconic and skilled players like Sergio Agüero, Virgil van Dijk, Erling Haaland, and Mohamed Salah. This has made the action even more exciting for fans, and it’s a game you definitely don’t want to miss.

Man United vs Man City: The Ultimate Manchester Derby

Manchester United and Manchester City share one of the biggest rivalries in Premier League soccer. Known as the Manchester Derby, this battle takes place between two of the top clubs in England. Both teams come from Manchester, so there’s an incredible amount on the line, and defeat simply isn’t an option for either side.

Historically, Manchester United has been the better side when the two face off against each other, although this has changed recently. City has become the top EPL team, and, as with Liverpool, they’ve now surpassed United’s position at the top.

City’s emergence has only fueled the intensity between the two teams, and some would argue that when it comes to the best Premier League rivalries, the Manchester Derby is right at the top.

Both Mancunian sides have faced each other countless times, producing a near-endless amount of action and memories. One highlight was the 2011 FA Cup semi-final, where Manchester City defeated United 1-0 on their way to winning the trophy. Later that season, City followed up with an absolutely humiliating 6-1 victory at Old Trafford, which was one of the biggest upsets in United’s history.

The Manchester Derby has brought many of the world’s top players onto the field, including Wayne Rooney, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The star-studded lineups have only increased the popularity of the Manchester Derby with fans.

Manchester Derby matches are available at all Premier League betting sites and you can check our recommendations to find the best site for you. All recommended sites offer plenty of soccer markets and are safe places to bet online.

Arsenal vs Tottenham: The North London Derby

The Arsenal-Tottenham Hotspur Derby is one of the biggest English Premier League rivalries between two of London’s most successful soccer clubs. This fierce rivalry stems from the teams’ geographic proximity. Both teams are based in North London, and this has caused one of the most intense rivalries, both on and off the pitch.

In the past, Arsenal was a pretty clear winner, boasting a huge collection of English and international trophies. However, Tottenham has always been a formidable opponent, always trying to challenge Arsenal’s status as North London’s top team. Things did become more even, but Arsenal has edged ahead again slightly.

The rivalry has produced tons of memorable moments, including last-minute winners, jaw-dropping comebacks, and high-scoring games with unexpected twists.

Liverpool vs Everton: The Infamous Merseyside Derby

The Liverpool-Everton derby, commonly known as the Merseyside Derby, is a rivalry between Liverpool’s two highly popular soccer clubs. This is one of the most well-known and famous Derby matches in the world, as well as one of the hardest fought.

It’s a long-running joke that families in Liverpool are split depending on which club they choose to support. This creates a unique atmosphere during matches, as you’ll often have one family member rooting for Liverpool, with the others shouting for Everton to score!

While there have been problems with fan misconduct, the Merseyside Derby is usually more about on-field talent and raw emotion than hooligans taking things off the pitch. It remains one of the most anticipated games in English soccer and attracts tens of millions of viewers every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

On this page, we've shown you some of the biggest rivals in Premier League history. You should now have a much better idea of which soccer matches are going to be the most memorable to watch. Below, we will finish off by answering a few additional questions.

Which rivalry is the most intense?

In our opinion, the most intense rivalry is probably the one between Liverpool and Manchester United. These two clubs have a long history of competing against one another, and their games are always intense and highly worth watching.

How did the North London Derby originate?

The North London Derby began when Arsenal moved to North London in 1913. They became neighbors with Tottenham Hotspur which caused an instant rivalry to develop. As both teams played against one another, this rivalry intensified, with fans, players and even managers desperate for local pride and victory over their opponent.

What's the history behind the Manchester City/United Derby?

The Manchester Derby started in 1881. It's one of the most famous derby matches in the EPL, and it started as a result of both teams being located in the same city. In the last 15 years or so the rivalry has intensified, as City's financial backing has allowed them to sign world-class players, making them the better team. Their games are intense, emotion-filled, and fantastic to watch.

Why is the Merseyside Derby so significant?

The Merseyside Derby began in 1892 when Everton left Anfield to play at Goodison Park. As a result, Liverpool FC was formed to occupy Anfield. The first Merseyside Derby was played on October 13, 1894, at Goodison Park, and Everton secured a 3-0 victory over Liverpool. Since then, the rivalry has continued to grow, and their matches are always an eagerly anticipated event in the English soccer calendar.

How do rivalries impact games?

Rivalries can have a big impact on games, as they almost always add more intensity, competitiveness, and emotion. When two rival teams play against each other, both the players and fans are desperate to win and claim bragging rights. This usually means these games are more intense, with both teams going all out to try and defeat their opponent.
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