During this period, the two clubs set six of the eight highest Premier League points totals since 1995, when the number of games for each team per season was reduced to 38.

[1][2] The quality of the rivalry has been praised, with pundit and former Liverpool and England player Jamie Carragher describing it in 2022 as "the best we've ever had in English football... We've never had the two best teams & managers in the world together fighting it out.

"[3] In 2022, the BBC noted that the two clubs "have produced a rivalry in recent years that has taken the standard of English football to another level.

By the late 18th century, Liverpool had grown as a major sea port – critical to the growth and success of the northern cotton mills.

This reversal of fortunes happened against the backdrop of shifting political backgrounds and significant events in British culture and society in the second half of the 20th century.

The 2012–13 champions, Manchester United, had a relatively poor season following the retirement of Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in English football history.

In the 2018–19 season, the rivalry between the two clubs reached new heights, as both Liverpool and Manchester City were involved in a very close title race.

In the 2019–20 season, Manchester City defeated Liverpool on penalties in the 2019 FA Community Shield and also won their third League Cup in a row.

In the 2023-24 season, City won their record fourth consecutive league title after a close race with Arsenal.

Jurgen Klopp announced in January that this would be his final season with Liverpool, who won their record-extending tenth League Cup.

With Guardiola managing Bayern Munich and Klopp leading Borussia Dortmund - collectively the two most successful German clubs, contesting a rivalry known as Der Klassiker - the two faced off eight times in under two years, including three cup finals.

"[3] Pundit and former England player Gary Neville described it as "an exceptional rivalry in the terms of excellence and consistency".

In 2023, the Manchester Evening News noted the particularly "heated" and "hostile" nature of the rivalry, and that "the clashes between the two clubs were now becoming season defining".

[19] A survey conducted in 2019 found that a large number of City fans consider Liverpool, not Manchester United, to be their club's biggest rivals.

A 19-year-old man, Kian Holt, was charged with tragedy chanting following a Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on 1 December 2024.

[22] The below table demonstrates the competitive results, excluding extra time/penalties, between the two sides (not indicative of titles won).

Cup finals are typically played at a neutral location such as the England national football team home stadium (Wembley).