Jamie Carragher causes a stir when making a claim that the ‘greatest football rivalry’ in England is between Man City and Liverpool.
Ahead of their meeting at the Etihad Stadium in what will be a Premier League title-decider on Sunday, the former Reds defender has hailed City and Liverpool as ‘the two best teams in the world’.
Not only are the two clubs set to fight it out, with Pep Guardiola’s side just one point clear of Jurgen Klopp’s men at the top, but they meet in the FA Cup semi-finals next weekend and could potentially play one another again in the Champions League final this summer.
This @ManCity @LFC rivalry is the best we’ve ever had in English football!! We’ve never had the two best teams & managers in the world together fighting it out.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 8, 2022
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Carragher says: “Liverpool versus Manchester City has become the greatest, most intense and highest quality rivalry in English football history.
“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.
“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 Arsène 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.”
You’ve got the backing of the boss, @Carra23 😂 pic.twitter.com/NHFgDxsHjG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 8, 2022
Carragher goes on to say probably the only English football rivalry worthy of comparison to the present day Liverpool against Man City one is Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the late 1970s and 1980s.
One or the other had won the Division One title or the European Cup – or both – for five consecutive seasons between 1977 and 1981.
Both teams have the chance to enjoy a truly historic season. City are chasing a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, while Liverpool can win a quadruple of those three trophies plus the already-claimed Carabao Cup. Read more on Carra’ column HERE.
As mentioned, Jamie Carragher causes a stir making his ‘greatest football rivalry’ in England claim…
@MUFC_redarmy99: you can’t say this is a rivalry when the players / managers of both teams seem to adore each other. There’s no venom at all in it, no where near what Arsenal / United used to be
@CL9268: “We’ve never had the two best teams in the world fighting it out” He says that like we weren’t set for back to back United vs Chelsea Champions league finals before UEFA put a stop to it to help Barca get there
@4shaann: Trying to erase Fergie v Wenger because you were playing back then and didn’t get a sniff of a league doesn’t make it true
@terryflewers: This rivals comes nowhere near Man United/Arsenal, come on now, this rivalry is friendly!
@UTDkingsley: Trying to downplay Fergie vs Wenger rivalry because you were a bang average player back then and also king of own goals
@rfprods1: Quality wise for sure, but when it comes to pure hatred and anger its Arsenal and Man United through ’97 to ’05. Younger United and Arsenal fans still hate each other and they don’t exactly know why lol.
@WelBeast: Lol!! ….and I thought you were the reasonable one. Lol
@CFCAllyRhodes: Mourinho x SAF was bigger
@jon89gel: Arsenal v Man United will always be the one. Call me nostalgic but Wenger V Fergie is better than this nonsense
@davskicross: The world stopped when Arsenal played Man United late 90s-early 00s. It had everything, the players, the managers, the needle. Not a single person outside of Manchester or Liverpool gives a bollocks about Man City 😂
@LUHGSzns: MUFC v Arsenal was an actual rivalry, not this fake hate 🤣 only thing real is both teams obsession with MUFC.
@1Walid1: Lol. Carra must’ve been in a coma in late 90’s early 00’s…which explains his defending in the playing days.
@Haider_Rubbani: I’d have to disagree massively. Whilst both teams are playing at such a high level, the rivalry lacks character & bite. There’s absolutely zero needle between the two sides, it’s too friendly. Give me the days of Keano v Vieira, Fergie v Wenger any day of the week #MUFC
@abefr0man_: clearly jamie carragher woke up this morning and decided to put his clown shoes on
@ProfessorRalf: During 97/98 until 03/04 season, United won the league 4 times and arsenal 3 times. That’s what you called rivalry. It’s not really it when one team won it 5 times and the other just once
@garythegooner56: Every now and then a special rivalry comes along like Coe v Ovett, Borg v McEnroe or Ali v Frazier. Arsenal v Man Utd with Wenger v Ferguson and Vieira v Keane was one of those. There hasn’t been anything like that before or since in football. Liverpool v Man City doesn’t compare
@offic1alKeane16: So Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger should be forgotten about cause Liverpool won one league title in 32 years
It’s a brilliant rivalry, but nothing tops the intensity, aggression and hatred of the Arsenal and Man United games of the 90s and 2000s for me.pic.twitter.com/udFRN3czlM https://t.co/h9CPahECJ6
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) April 8, 2022
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