While both sides Manchester City and Liverpool get ready to lock horns again this weekend in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. We ask the question is this the greatest Premier League rivalry that the Premier League has ever seen?
Last week Jamie Carragher wrote in his weekly column with the Telegraph and claimed that Manchester City vs Liverpool is the greatest we have ever seen, playing on other exciting duels;
‘Liverpool versus Manchester City has become the greatest, most intense and highest quality rivalry in English football history,’ he writes.
‘There is a uniqueness to it. This is the first time the two best teams in England are the two best teams in the world, led by the two greatest coaches of their generation.’
Does this guy remember the rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal? The former Liverpool defender did make comparisons though
‘I can hear the dissent from Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea fans as I argue this.
‘There are plenty of head-to-heads worthy of comparison. Many will claim that the fixtures overseen by Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger at their peak were of similar quality and packed just as much of an emotional punch.
‘To me, the parallels run out of steam when applied to European competition. Arsenal were United’s closest challengers when Ferguson’s side completed the treble in 1999, edged out in the Premier League and FA Cup. But their rivalry never infiltrated the Champions League, aside from a semi-final in 2009, by which time Arsenal were not the force they were.
‘Even at the height of their Premier League power – when it was obvious if one club did not end the season champions, the other would – could it be argued that United and Arsenal were the two best teams in Europe? Ahead of Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan? No, United versus Arsenal was generally a domestic squabble.
‘Similarly, although United met Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final, with respect that was the Chelsea of Avram Grant, not Jose Mourinho. Yes, they were two great teams, Chelsea missing out on the title by two points in 2008 in addition to their suffering European heartbreak, but an extra edge was missing on the touchline when it was no longer Ferguson versus Mourinho.’
How do you define the word rivalry?
Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
“there always has been intense rivalry between the clubs”
While Manchester City vs Liverpool might be current and its relevant at present. I don’t there is any beating Keane v Vieira, Fergie v Wenger, Keown v Van Nistelrooy. There was a real hatred between the two clubs, Manchester United and Arsenal and that will be forever be the greatest rivalry in Premier League history. Despite a former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher’s obvious biases to his former club.