Liverpool vs Manchester United is a fixture that inspires memories of some of the Premier League’s most famous battles, with a rivalry that stretches back decades for both clubs.
The two teams have built up the most iconic rivalry in English football, with historic divides between the two cities forming a key part of the motivation for the mutual dislike.
Even for neutral Premier League fans, this match-up is always eagerly anticipated each season. Liverpool have had the better of things during the Jurgen Klopp era, and no fan from either team is likely to forget the game at Anfield in March 2023, when the Reds defeated their fierce rivals 7-0.
United’s domination of the Premier League’s early years added more fuel to a historical fire as they finally overhauled Liverpool’s record league title tally of 18 in 2010/11, commonly referred to as “knocking them off their perch”.
The Sporting News takes a look at the head-to-head record, trophy count and most appearances by a player in this clash.
MORE: How many trophies has Jurgen Klopp won?
Liverpool vs Man United head-to-head, all-time results
In 243 competitive meetings, United hold the edge over Liverpool, with 91 wins compared to 82 defeats and 70 draws, stretching back to 1894, when the Manchester club were called Newton Heath.
The rivalry truly sparked into life during the mid-1960s as Bill Shankly and Sir Matt Busby’s sides traded league titles in four successive seasons.
However, despite United’s occasional swipes at Shankly, Liverpool went on to dominate the 70s and 80’s with 11 league titles in 20 years as United faded.
The arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford swung the pendulum back in United’s favour at the start of the Premier League era from 1992 onwards as Liverpool’s Golden era of Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish faded from view.
United defined the early years of the rebranded English top flight, winning six of the first eight titles as Liverpool’s malaise continued, and Arsenal and Chelsea became the main challengers to Ferguson’s dominance.
The rivalry remained strong, however, as United’s win in the 1996 FA Cup final famously showed. Liverpool’s “Spice Boys” were undone by Eric Cantona’s late strike as United won their second league and cup double in three seasons.
The start of the 2000s saw Liverpool slowly begin to rally, with Danny Murphy emerging as an unlikely matchwinner in the Gerard Houllier era, with three decisive goals at Old Trafford between 2000 and 2004.
Rafael Benitez struggled initially against Ferguson before ending his tenure with three wins in four games in the fixture, but it was United who continued to win trophies.
Klopp has picked up the baton in strong style since 2015, with the former Borussia Dortmund coach boasting the best Premier League record against United compared to his predecessors, including a 2-0 Anfield win en route to winning a first league title for 30 years. There was also that unforgettable 7-0 win over United at Anfield in March 2023.
In a gripping FA Cup clash at Old Trafford in 2023/24, United won 4-3 at Old Trafford after extra time of a remarkable quarterfinal. They then played out a 2-2 draw in a league fixture that effectively dealt a fatal blow to Liverpool’s lingering hopes of winning the title. However, the Reds avenged that result when they visited their rivals’ home for the first time under new boss Arne Slot.
Liverpool vs. Man United: Who has won the most trophies?
Klopp’s men romping to glory in 2020/21 with a 99-point haul closed up the overall league titles head-to-head to 20-19 in United’s favour, with Ferguson having made good on his infamous pledge to knock Liverpool “off their perch”.
It makes them the two most successful teams in English football history, with Arsenal next in the all-time standings with 13 titles. The Gunners have more FA Cup trophies than either of the north-west heavyweights, with 14 to United’s 12 and Liverpool’s eight.
The Anfield club are out in front when it comes to European successes, with six European Cup and Champions League wins to United’s three — tallies that again make them the two most successful English clubs.
United also won the Europa League in 2016/17, a competition Liverpool won three times in its previous guise as the UEFA Cup in 1972/73, 1975/76 and 2000/01.
The now-defunct European Cup Winners Cup also entered United’s rollcall in 1990/91, while each club has one FIFA Club World Cup apiece.
Liverpool hold the record in the League Cup (Carabao Cup today) with 10 all-time wins. United have won the trophy six times.
Liverpool vs Man United biggest ever wins, defeats
Liverpool recorded an incredible 7-0 win over Ten Hag’s men on March 5, 2023.
That proved to be Liverpool’s biggest ever win against United. They previously beat Newton Heath 7-1 in October 1895.
It continued a dismal recent run for the Red Devils, who were also on the end of a 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford and 4-0 reverse on Merseyside in 2021/22.
You have to go back almost a century for a comparable United triumph – a 6-1 Division One win on May 5, 1928 that remains their largest margin of victory in the fixture.
Liverpool vs Man United Premier League record
Liverpool Wins | Draws | Man United Wins |
20 | 15 | 29 |
Top appearances in Liverpool vs Man United
Player | Club | Appearances |
Ryan Giggs | Man United | 48 |
Paul Scholes | Man United | 33 |
David de Gea | Man United | 28 |
Gary Neville | Man United | 26 |
Arthur Albiston | Man United | 26 |
Top scorers in Liverpool vs Man United
Player | Club | Goals |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 15 |
George Wall | Man United | 9 |
Steven Gerrard | Liverpool | 9 |
Stan Pearson | Man United | 8 |
George Best/ Jimmy Turnbull/ Harry Chambers/Dick Forshaw | Man United./Liverpool | 7 |