Biggest rivalries in English football

For a football fan, a derby is that fixture that always leaps off the calendar as one of the most exciting and thrilling ties of the season.

With that in mind, we wanted to take a closer look at some of the most enthralling match-ups in English football that gets the blood pumping. 

So without further ado, we present to you our top 5 picks for the biggest rivalries in English football. 

#5 Manchester City vs Manchester United

People aren’t entirely wrong when they say that the life and soul of the Manchester derby has waned in recent years, but Man City’s return to prominence since their 2008 takeover has made it one of the most high-profile and closely-matched rivalries of them all. 

While the in-stadium atmosphere holds City and United back from making a charge up this list, we’d be out of our minds not to admit that Manchester’s intra-city clashes are anything less in quality, history, and entertainment value. 

There’s also been no shortage of animosity between the two sides’ players over the years. While many United fans believe that Liverpool are their fiercest rivals, all that goes out the window when it comes to wanting to be the best and biggest in Manchester.

#4 Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday

One of England’s greatest, most historic cities also happens to be home of two of the nation’s most iconic football clubs, so it’s only natural that the battles between the Blades and the Owls are just as steely as their hometown’s famous industry. 

In the so-called “Steel City Derby”, the Blades come out on top in the head-to-head record of their 131-game history, winning 46 of them, while Wednesday have won 42 times. Unlike other rivalries, you can always count on the two sets of fans being amicable towards each other for the greater good, but all smiles and collaborations are shifted aside when the match comes round.

Following Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League in the 2023/24 season and Sheffield Wednesday successfully avoiding relegation to the third division in the same term, the Steel City Derby is set to make its league return in the Championship this season.

#3 Everton vs Liverpool

Few cities in the world live and breathe its football clubs more than Liverpool. Thus, it’s no surprise that the Merseyside derby produces such a cauldron-like atmosphere on a regular basis. 

However, the only downside of the derby is this: having played continuously since the 1962/63 campaign, Liverpool have dominated the fixture in the 21st century despite the sheer needle of the fixture, which can see families split between the home and away ends. 

In its entirety, the Merseyside derby has been played a total of 244 times, with the Reds coming out on top 99 times and Everton only managing 68 wins, while 77 of them have resulted in a stalemate.

Moreover, with Goodison Park and Anfield standing essentially a stone’s throw away from each other, with just the green of Stanley Park to separate them, it’s no surprise their fans feel so strongly about this match-up. 

#2 Newcastle United vs Sunderland

Here are two football clubs with rich histories and ten top division titles between them. It’s sad to see two immortal institutions of English football separated by different tiers right now, though it does little to diminish the Tyne–Wear derby’s well-earned status as the ultimate rivalry south of the Scotland-England border

Neck-and-neck in derby wins, the statistical balance between the sides is still very even: to date, having played each other 158 times, Newcastle edge out Sunderland by two wins, 55 to 53 wins respectively, with 50 ties ending in draws. 

Their most recent match-up came in the 2024 FA Cup, where Newcastle emerged 3-0 victors at the Stadium of Light—their first away derby win since 2011.

Besides, this fixture has brought many great moments off the pitch too. Does anyone remember Magpies legend Alan Shearer being asked to wear a Sunderland shirt?

#1 Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

An absolute banker for entertainment, the North London derby is arguably the most heated and fiercely-contested game on the English shores as two European contenders with stellar fanbases slug it out until one side outscore the other. 

Not only does this fixture mean absolutely everything to Spurs and Arsenal fans, the rivalry is so palpable and enthralling that it draws in neutrals from around the world as well. 

An eye-watering 195 games have been played out between the North London pair, with the Gunners coming out on top with 81 wins. Ironically, it is also the highest-scoring fixture in Premier League history and hardly ever fails to deliver.