It might have taken 30 years, but Liverpool are champions of England once more.
Jurgen Klopp has cried tears of joy live on telly. Kenny Dalglish’s phone has pinged itself into oblivion. Jamie Carragher is likely nursing the worst hangover of all time, pale and sweating behind a pair of Aviator sunglasses.
All in all, it’s a good time to be a Liverpool fan.
For their rivals, in among all the talk of asterisks and deeply unpleasant Scouse-bashing, there is a need to reassess. Where once Liverpool were the mercurial nearly men of the Premier League and jokes at their expense came easily, they are now in a position to build another formidable domestic dynasty.
Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson said as much on Sky Sports after Manchester City’s decisive defeat to Chelsea on Thursday evening. “We are back on our perch,” he roared, in reference to Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous quote about knocking them off it.
It’s testament to Manchester United’s inexorable success under Ferguson, however, that Liverpool are still behind their rivals on domestic silverware.
Manchester United fans will want it to stay that way. Klopp and co will fancy their chances.
So how do Liverpool’s honours stack up against their old rivals now that they’ve been crowned champions for the 19th time?
League titles
Having held the record for most league titles between 1990 and 2009, Liverpool were finally caught by a Manchester United side inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney in his pomp.
It was made all the more painful by the fact that Liverpool came so close that season, finishing as runners-up under Rafa Benitez and only four points behind Ferguson’s side.
Benitez masterminded victories against Ferguson home and away but, as they did so often during that era, Liverpool dropped too many points against mid-table teams and missed their big chance.
Manchester United have won two further titles since then, meaning they hold the record with 20.
Liverpool are now one behind them and their main objective for next season will be to level up.
First Division/Premier League:
- Liverpool: 19
- Man Utd: 20
European trophies
During their long wait for the league title Liverpool could always take solace from their European record.
After last season’s Champions League triumph they have now been champions of Europe six times, compared to three combined European Cup and Champions League wins for Manchester United.
Liverpool also hold the English record for number of Uefa Cup (now Europa League) and Uefa Super Cup wins, with three and four respectively.
Manchester United have one European Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one Europa League title, won under Jose Mourinho, to their name.
In total, Liverpool have tallied up 13 European trophies compared to six for Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are still in the Europa League, however, so they could go some way to narrowing the gap this season.
European Cup/Champions League:
- Liverpool: 6
- Man Utd: 3
Cup Winners’ Cup/Uefa Cup/Europa League:
- Liverpool: 3
- Man Utd: 2
Uefa Super Cup:
- Liverpool: 4
- Man Utd: 1
Domestic cups
While Manchester United have the edge when it comes to the FA Cup, winning it 12 times to Liverpool’s seven, Liverpool have won the League Cup a record eight times while their rivals have won it on five occasions, most recently in 2017.
Although it’s scraping the barrel somewhat to argue over who has won the Community Shield more often, Manchester United have a record 21 pre-season triumphs to Liverpool’s 15.
FA Cup:
- Liverpool: 7
- Man Utd: 12
League Cup:
- Liverpool: 8
- Man Utd: 5
Community Shield:
- Liverpool: 15
- Man Utd: 21
World titles
It may not have the same prestige here as it does in other parts of the world, but both Liverpool and Manchester United have won the Club World Cup.
Liverpool won their first world title earlier this season after beating Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo in Doha. Manchester United won the tournament in 2008, also winning its predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, in 1999.
World titles:
- Liverpool: 1
- Man Utd: 2
Grand Total (excluding Super Cups/Community Shield):
- Liverpool: 44
- Man Utd: 44
More on Liverpool
- Coutinho: From world-beater at Liverpool to failure at Barça, Newcastle may be his only hope
- Liverpool’s excuse for not signing Werner is a sign of things to come
- ‘The Kop went wild!’: Remembering when Liverpool last won the title
- Barnes exclusive: ‘Could I have played in this Liverpool team? Great players fit into any era’
- How Liverpool went from Europe’s best to waiting 30 years for another title
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3duSneM
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