5 Incidents that prove Manchester United-Liverpool is the biggest rivalry in the world

Football is a game that is famous for its fan-following and when the word 'fan' is involved, rivalries are born. Rivalries are necessary for the love and hate received by a club. Incidents take place both on and off the pitch.

Players give their everything to win. Rivalries exist in football since ages, may it be the 'Superclasico' between River Plate and Boca Juniors or 'el Clasico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

One of the fiercest rivalries in football is of Manchester United and Liverpool, known as 'The Red Rivalry' and 'North West Derby'. A rivalry between two of the English football universe's brightest stars, separated by just 30 miles.

A rivalry between ideologies, economics, cultures and almost everything that divides the two cities. This is such an intense rivalry that players and managers get goosebumps just by mentioning it. A rivalry that creates and destroys careers. It's more than a rivalry. This is Liverpool versus Manchester United, where history is written by day, only to be overshadowed by night.

Some of the incidents why 'The Red Rivalry' is the biggest rivalry in the world.

#5 The 'Suarez - Evra' incident

In the 2011-12 season, the rivalry was exacerbated by claims that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez racially abused United's Patrice Evra during the match at Anfield. Suarez was banned for eight games by FA panel. This included the fourth-round tie between the two clubs in the FA Cup (again at Anfield), won by Liverpool. However, on 11 Feb 2012, United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, and for the first time since his ban, Suarez played for Liverpool.

Before the kick-off, the two teams were expected to shake hands, but the Uruguayan ignored the hand offered by Evra and moved to the next player in the line. As a result, Rio Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck rejected the handshake of Suarez. United went on to win 2-1 and Evra celebrated with Suarez close by in front of the home supporters. Sir Alex Ferguson declared Suarez a "disgrace" and suggested he should not play again for Liverpool.

#4 Gerrard's comments on Manchester United's shirt

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard took a film crew on tour of his home, showing a collection of football shirts he swapped with opposing players as part of the routine after the match; he pointed out that there were no Manchester United shirts in there and he would never have one of them in his house.

Steven Gerrard has made some explosive comments about the Liverpool - Manchester United rivalry and how deeply it affects him.

"I had been taught (from childhood) to loathe Manchester United," he said.

"It was drilled into our brains, hardening our hearts and conditioning our souls as Liverpool fans."

"It was tattooed into the head of every Liverpool fan. We had never liked each other, as clubs or as cities, but the animosity had become deeper."

"For more than 26 years, I’d always felt compelled to show fire towards them. They were the enemy. Their shirt is the only one I won’t allow in my house. I have a big collection of shirts I’ve swapped with other players — but not one from United.”

The intensity of the rivalry can be gauged from this line in Gerrard’s autobiography – “during 90 minutes of football, I want United to die.”

#3 Neville kissing United's badge right in front of Liverpool fans

The two European giants met at the Old Trafford on 22 January during the 2005/06 season, in a game that up until the 90th minute, had failed to live up to expectation.

But everything changed when Ferdinand appeared in the match's dying minutes to head home the winner assisted by Giggs and move Manchester United four points away from Liverpool. It was Gary Neville's reaction to the late goal which is the reason this match is written in the United's history as one of the classics.

Neville ran the entire stadium to celebrate the winner in front of Liverpool's fans where he repeatedly kissed his badge. This reaction was totally unexpected and was painful for the Liverpool fans.

Gary Neville was later slapped with a fine of £10,000 because of this reaction but he later revealed he had no regrets celebrating like this.

#2 Rooney: I Hate Liverpool

If you are a Manchester United fan, you will surely remember Wayne Rooney for a lifetime. Rooney was a product of Liverpool's city rivals Everton who played for United from 2004 and 2017. He was one of the most important players of Sir Alex Ferguson's era. He was one of the captains of United. He always showed his love for United and hate for Liverpool.

In an interview before the match, Rooney described how he grew up hating the Reds.

“I grew up an Everton fan, my whole family are Everton fans and I grew up hating Liverpool – and that hasn’t changed", he said.

Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's all-time leading scorer and the only player to have scored 250 goals for the Reds. He has scored 253 goals for them.

A tireless worker, Rooney always gave 100 percent on the pitch and couldn't stand losing. Those traits, from time to time in the past, landed him in hot water, but everybody recognized his immense passion and will to win.

#1 Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest challenge

Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the greatest and most successful manager in the history of football, managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He won 38 trophies during his 26 years with Manchester United, including 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions League titles. At the end of the 2012-13 season, he retired from management with glory, winning the Premier League.

He was always in the highlights during the rivalry with Liverpool and in 2002, in response to an Alan Hansen comment, he replied:

"My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f**king perch, and you can print that".

He indeed managed to do it. United lead Liverpool in terms of Premier League titles.

In the last 20 years, Liverpool have not been able to win the Premier League while United kept winning and has now taken the lead with their 20 league titles to Liverpool's 18, that once was led by Liverpool by 18 titles to 7.

Sir Ferguson did what he said and this incident has made a mark on the heart of Liverpool fans and they are eager for their team to overtake United once again.

Edited by Abhinav Munshi