Manchester United vs Liverpool: Head to Head record

Manchester United vs Liverpool is the biggest game and rivalry in English football and we can reveal their full head-to-head record, as well as some interesting facts and stats about the iconic fixture.

Down the years, we have been treated to some truly memorable matches between the two biggest clubs in the country, which has included last-minute drama, high scoring thrillers, sending offs and so much more. It isn’t hard to see why the game is regularly viewed by hundreds of millions of fans around the world.

The pair are founding members of the so-called “Big Six” and have consistently been involved in title challenges and battles for Champions League qualification.

So we’ve established they’re both massive but who has the better record in the fixture and where did the rivalry start? Find out all this and more below.

Why are Manchester United and Liverpool rivals?

The fierce cross-city rivalry between the clubs can be traced all the way back to the Industrial Revolution in the 18^th century, as the two competed for dominance in the North West.

This later spread to the football pitch but the fierce rivalry we know today started in the late 1970s and early 1980s as Liverpool scooped up the major honours but United remained the most popular English side, who also regularly bested them in the league and cup games.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Steven Gerrard of Liverpool is tackled by Wayne Rooney of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 21, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Despite being English football’s two biggest and most successful sides, they have rarely both thrived at the same time with 1964-67 being the only time the clubs won a league title after the other. The 1970s and 80s belonged to Liverpool while United were the dominant side of the 1990s and all the way up until Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Regardless, the game remains the most heated in the country.

Manchester United and Liverpool stats

How many times have the two clubs played?

The two clubs have played one another a whopping 238 games (11vs11). This has included clashes in the Premier League, Division One and Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League and the Community Shield. They also met in the Lancashire Cup and North Region War League during World War II.

When was the first match between the clubs?

Liverpool first met Manchester United while they were still known as Newton Heath and worn the green and gold seen today as part of anti-Glazer protests.

The game took place at the end of the 1893-1894 season, where Division Two winners Liverpool took on bottom of Division One Newton Heath in a play-off to determine who would be in the top flight the following season. Liverpool won the game 2-0 at Ewood Park.

Who has more wins?

Look away Liverpool fans! United have been victorious on 90 occasions to the Red’s 80. The remaining 68 games between the two great rivals have ended in draws.

Which manager has won the most United vs Liverpool matches?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool argues with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after being sent off during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on September 23, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly given he managed United for over 26 years, Sir Alex Ferguson has won the most matches between the two clubs with 30 to his name. This came in 65 clashes with the Anfield side, another record.

Who has won the most trophies?

The two most successful clubs in English football by a considerable distance, Liverpool just shade it with 46 major trophies* to United’s 44. The Merseysiders have won an English-record six European Cup/Champions League while the Red Devils are a record-20 time English league champions.

* top flight title, FA and League Cup, European Cup/Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, European Cup Winners’ Cup, World Club Championship

What trophies has Manchester United won?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson lifts the Premier League trophy following the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

First Division/Premier League: (1907/08, 1910/11, 1951/52, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13)
European Cup/Champions League: (1967/68, 1998/99, 2007/08)
World Club Championship: (2008/09)
Europa League: (2016/17)
European Cup Winners Cup: (1990/91)
FA Cup: (1908/09, 1947/48, 1962/63, 1976/77, 1982/83, 1984/85, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1995/1996, 1998/99, 2003/04, 2015/16)
League Cup: (1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2016/17)
Intercontinental Cup: (1999/2000)
European Super Cup: (1991)
English Second Division: (1935/36, 1974/75)
Community Shield: (1908/09, 1911/12, 1952/53, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1965/66*, 1967/68*, 1977/78*, 1983/84, 1990/1991*, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2003/04, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/2017) - * shared

via Transfermarkt

What trophies has Liverpool won?

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool celebrates with the Champions League Trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

First Division/Premier League: (1900/01, 1905/06, 1921/22, 1922/23, 1946/47, 1963/64, 1965/66, 1972/73, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1985/86, 1987/88, 1989/90, 2019/20)
European Cup/Champions League: (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05, 2018/19)
World Club Championship: (2019/20)
UEFA Cup: (1972/73, 1975/76, 2000/01)
European Super Cup: (1977/78, 2001/02, 2005/06, 2019/20)
English Second Division: (1893/94, 1895/96, 1904/05, 1961/62)
FA Cup: (1964/65, 1973/74, 1985/86, 1988/89, 1991/92, 2000/01, 2005/06, 2021/22)
League Cup: (1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1994/95, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2011/12, 2021/22)
Community Shield: (1908/09, 1911/12, 1952/53, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1965/66*, 1967/68*, 1977/78*, 1983/84, 1990/1991*, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2003/04, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/2017) - * shared

Via Transfermarkt

What is the biggest win in the fixture?

Liverpool has the honour of the biggest win, having defeated then-Newton Heath 7-1 at Anfield in Division Two back in October 1895 (11v11).

A little more recently, Liverpool’s 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in October 2021 was their biggest win ever away to United.

What is the highest-scoring match between the two clubs?

An 11-goal thriller in the 1907-08 season saw Liverpool triumph 7-4 over United at Anfield. It feels a little unlikely to ever be topped (11v11).

What player has played in the most Manchester United vs Liverpool games?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United scores the opening goal from a penalty kick during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 3rd round match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 9, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Of a staggering 963 games Ryan Giggs played for United, 48 came against their greatest rivals (Liverpool FC Fandom).

What player has scored the most goals in Manchester United vs Liverpool games?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool shoots past Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea to score his hat trick during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on October 24, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah’s 10 goals for Liverpool are the most in the fixture, with him taking the record for most goals in the fixture from United’s George Wall and Sandy Turnball (Liverpool FC Fandom).

After not scoring in his first four games against United, the Egyptian has scored in all but one of the last seven meetings between the sides (Transfermarkt).

Which players have played for both clubs?

Famously the last player to join Liverpool from United and vice versa is Phil Chisnall, who moved to Anfield in 1964. He was the ninth man to make the 31-mile journey directly between the city.

The clubs’ refusal to do business with one another was exemplified when Gabriel Heinze attempted to move from Manchester to Merseyside in 2007. Told under no uncertain terms that this would not happen, the Argentine defender took his case to a tribunal, which sided with United.

Several players have played for both clubs on either side of stints elsewhere. Peter Beardsley made one appearance for United in 1982/83 before finding great success at Liverpool later in the decade following his first spell with Newcastle.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Michael Owen of Manchester United is brought down by Jamie Carragher of Liverpool during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 25, 2009 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Paul Ince was a pivotal player in United’s rise to the top in the 1990s but was sold to Inter Milan in 1995. After two years in Serie A, he returned to the North-West, this time to wear the red of Liverpool, who he captained for a stage. His standing amongst United fans never recovered.

The same can be said for Michael Owen with Liverpool fans. An academy graduate, Owen scored 158 goals for the Reds between 1997 and 2004 before moving to Real Madrid and then Newcastle.

The summer of 2009 saw him commit the ultimate act of betrayal in the eyes of Reds fans, when he joined Sir Alex and United on a free transfer. A league title came but he remains a controversial figure on Merseyside.

You can find all of the latest football news right here at GiveMesport.