Manchester United and Liverpool: who is the real powerhouse?

In the long history of English Premier League football, the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool has been known as the “Derbies” and is one of the most intense and emotionally charged contests in English football. These two teams not only represent two different styles of English football, but also symbolize two very different historical trajectories: the glorious rise and fall of Manchester United, and the quiet decline and revival of Liverpool.

In recent years, as Manchester United’s performance has fluctuated and Liverpool has risen again under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp, many people have begun to discuss the question of which is stronger between these two of the most influential teams in the history of the Premier League. To answer this question, we can analyze it from three aspects: historical achievements, recent performance, and overall strength. By comparing these dimensions, we may be able to come to a clearer answer.

1. Historical achievements: Manchester United’s golden era vs Liverpool’s dominance

Manchester United’s golden era

When it comes to Manchester United, the name Sir Alex Ferguson is inextricably linked with the club. During his time as manager (1986-2013), he took the club to unprecedented heights. Under his leadership, Manchester United not only became the absolute overlord of the Premier League, but also won numerous awards in European competitions. Manchester United won a total of 13 championships in the Premier League era, which is almost an unassailable record. They have also won the Champions League several times, making them one of the most respected football clubs in the world.

United’s success was not only due to their strong squad of players, but also to Ferguson’s management wisdom and tactical innovation. He built a team that was full of fighting spirit, discipline and competitiveness. Both in attack and defence, United showed top-level performance. It can be said that during Ferguson’s tenure, Manchester United was a symbol of English and even European football.

Liverpool’s heyday

Although Manchester United’s achievements in the Premier League era are hard to match, Liverpool’s history should not be overlooked. In fact, before the establishment of the Premier League, Liverpool was the king of English football. From the 1970s to the 1980s, Liverpool dominated the domestic league and achieved great success in European competitions. They won the European Cup (now the Champions League) four times and consistently topped the domestic league.

Although Liverpool hit a low point in the 21st century, they never gave up on their quest for glory. Under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool has regained its vitality in recent years. They won the Champions League in 2019 and ended a 30-year drought of Premier League titles in 2020. This series of achievements proves that Liverpool is still an important force in English football.

2. Recent performance: Manchester United’s struggles vs Liverpool’s strong comeback

Manchester United: Struggles after Ferguson

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Manchester United seems to have lost its sense of direction. Over the past decade, United has gone through a number of managers, from David Moyes to José Mourinho to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Frank de Boer, but it has never been able to regain its former glory. The frequent changes of managers have resulted in a lack of unity in the team’s tactical philosophy and a lack of understanding among the players.

In addition, Manchester United’s transfer strategy has also been heavily criticized. Although the club has invested a lot of money in bringing in new recruits, the results have not been satisfactory. For example, the performances of high-priced recruits such as Pogba and Sancho have not met expectations, while the form of some core players has also declined. At the same time, Manchester United’s ranking in the Premier League has gradually declined, and they have even missed out on qualifying for the Champions League several times. This lackluster performance has disappointed fans and made the team seem even more powerless in the highly competitive Premier League.

Liverpool: Klopp’s road to revival

In contrast, Liverpool’s development in recent years has been exemplary. Liverpool has undergone a sea change since Jürgen Klopp took over the team in 2015. His high-pressure pressing tactics and fast counter-attack system have completely changed the team’s playing style. Under Klopp’s guidance, Liverpool has not only shown strong competitiveness in the Premier League, but also achieved good results in European competitions.

In 2019, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League trophy again after 14 years; in 2020, they ended a 30-year wait and won the Premier League championship. Behind all this is the meticulous coaching of Klopp and the outstanding performance of a group of world-class players such as Salah, Van Dijk and Alisson. Today, Liverpool has become a superpower in the Premier League and even in European football.

3. Overall strength: Manchester United vs Liverpool

Player lineup comparison

Judging from the current lineup, Manchester United has some players with great potential, such as Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, but there are still obvious weaknesses in its overall strength. In particular, United’s defense and attack lack stability, often making mistakes or failing to take advantage of opportunities.

Liverpool’s squad is more balanced and stronger. The defence has top defenders like Van Dijk, and the goalkeeper has a trustworthy last line of defence in Alisson. The midfield is manned by Henderson, Fabinho and others, who are good at both defending and attacking. Up front, the speed and skill of players like Salah and Nunez make it impossible for opponents to defend against them. It can be said that Liverpool’s squad is superior to Manchester United in terms of depth and quality.

Tactical system and coaching level

United’s tactical performance has always been unstable. In recent years, despite the team’s attempts at various playing styles, it has never been able to form a proven system. In contrast, Liverpool, under Klopp, has established a mature and effective tactical framework. Their pressing defense and fast counterattack tactics have not only caused headaches for their opponents, but have also brought the team countless victories.

4. Conclusion: Liverpool is stronger, and United’s recovery will take time

Based on the above analysis, Liverpool has an advantage in terms of historical achievements, recent performance and overall strength. Although Manchester United has had glorious years in the past, they are clearly far from their peak. Facing competition from strong rivals such as Manchester City and Liverpool, Manchester United seems to be unable to cope.

On the other hand, Liverpool has successfully achieved a revival through the efforts of Jürgen Klopp and has returned to the top ranks of the Premier League and European competitions. Although the future is still full of challenges, Liverpool is clearly more competitive and has more potential for development than Manchester United.

From a current perspective, Liverpool is undoubtedly the stronger of the two red giants. For Manchester United, a long rebuilding process is still needed before it can return to the top.