Why do Liverpool fans absolutely hate Man United? Rivalry explained

Economic history and background

• During the Industrial Revolution of the early 19th century, Manchester and Liverpool were both thriving economically. 
• Liverpool was a port city and Manchester was known as "Cottonopolis" due to its abundance of textile factories.
• Toward the end of that century, however, the Manchester Ship Canal was completed. This made the city direct 'rivals' to Liverpool, as ships no longer had to dock in Merseyside and could carry on up the Mersey all the way to Manchester via the canal.
• This was the beginning of the dislike between the citizens of both cities - some Liverpool folks lost their jobs and potential income due to this development. Of course, that didn't go down well with the community!

Moving rivalry to the field

• At this point, you might ask - why don't Liverpool fans hate Manchester City supporters as much as Man United's? Well, that's due to the historic success of the Red Devils, in contrast with the Cityzens who have just recently become a major footballing force.
• At the time of writing this article, these two are the most decorated clubs in English football - United have 66 trophies as compared to Liverpool's 64.
• Man United were the first English team to win the European Cup, but it was Paisley's Reds who won it 3 times in 4 years during the 70s and 80s.
• Liverpool won the English First Division for the first time back in 1901, with United's first title coming in 1908.
• Manchester United's 26-year spell without a league title was replicated and exceeded by Liverpool from 1990 to 2020, during which time United dominated English football and won 13 league titles.
• Interestingly, the rivals have never had long stretches at the same time, when they have both been the two most dominant teams in England. When one rival is languishing in the middle of the table, the other is usually collecting trophies!
• Both clubs believe they are the greatest club in English football, and they both have a very good stake to that claim - although, Liverpool's 19 league titles and 6 Champions League trophies outweigh United's 20 league titles and 3 Champions League victories.

Players and managers are in

• A rivalry between the fans isn't really that big unless the clubs buy into that hype, so to speak - and the players and the managers across the seasons definitely have fueled this rivalry.
• Wayne Rooney famously tweeted out after United won their 19th league title, overtaking Liverpool's tally back then: "A scouser knocks Liverpool of there perch. Haha. An Evertonian as well. Yes. People. U can't imagine how happy I am tonight. Believe"
• Reds legend Steven Gerrard has said that he will never allow a United shirt in his house as his dad said that it would be like dragging the Gerrard name through the mud.
• Since Phil Chisnall moved from Utd to Liverpool in 1964, not a single player has transferred between these two clubs. To put that in perspective, nine players have moved between Barcelona and Real Madrid since then.
• Even in the Sky Sports studio, you have two enemies Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville absolutely going at each other thanks to their allegiance to their former clubs.

Fans hate each other!

• Well, all of the facts and figures above point to one thing - the fans wanting to constantly one-up the other section.
• While acts of hooliganism have decreased since the 80s, a small and very unpleasant contingent of Liverpool fans have mocked Manchester United with sick songs about the Munich Air Disaster that claimed the lives of eight players.
• Certain United fans have also sung songs mocking the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies.  
• Liverpool fans are banned from the entrance to the away end at Anfield after an egg was thrown at Fergie during the 90s.
• During the age of social media, these two sets of fans are the most active on the internet and the 'banter' over the years has also just increased.

Short summary

• The rivalry started during the Industrial Revolution when the city of Manchester opened its own port, taking some business away from Liverpool citizens.
• On the field, Liverpool and Man United are the two most successful English clubs and are separated by just 2 trophies overall - the Reds lead the Red Devils in major trophies won.
• The players also dislike each other and not a single transfer has been made between the two clubs since 1964.
• In the 90s and 2000s, United's success drew them close to Liverpool and the Reds' subsequent rise under Klopp has made the rivalry even more interesting.
• The fans hate each other and are constantly trying to argue over who is the better team!