Gary Neville believes the rivalry between the Manchester United side he played in and Arsenal was the greatest in the Premier League era.
There has been a lot of talk recently that the current jousting between Manchester City and Liverpool eclipses United and Arsenal, particularly as Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield draws to a close.
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But Neville is not having it. He points to the fact that titles were more evenly split between Old Trafford and Highbury, as it was then. United won the Premier League in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003 with Arsenal coming out on top in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
The former United right-back told Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast: “I think when you talk about rivalry, whichever way you talk about football, on the pitch, off the pitch, Jürgen Klopp, we’ve talked about him in gushing terms, because he’s amazing, one of the greatest managers of all time, I couldn’t speak any more highly about him.
“But it’s not been a rivalry. I know there was a season where [Liverpool] did the 100 points, and it’s been amazing, but Pep’s just swept up. For six years, he’s won the league five out of the six times, so he’s swept up really.
“I mean, I know there’s been the odd season that’s been really tight, and Liverpool have been unbelievably unlucky and I think what Jürgen Klopp’s done has probably been better than what Pep Guardiola has done because of his resources.
“But that rivalry [Arsenal-Manchester United] was more like three or four titles [for each side], and then the off the pitch stuff and then the ferocity with the managers. That was a proper rivalry.
“So, for me, when you say [Liverpool-City is] the greatest rivalry of any sense, I just think no.”
