Manchester United and Liverpool are the most successful clubs in the history of English football – but how do the two compare?
Liverpool dominated English and European football in the 1970s and 80s while United struggled following Sir Matt Busby’s departure.
But Sir Alex Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 and recovered from a difficult start to guide United through the most successful period in their history.
They won a staggering 38 trophies during Ferguson’s 26-and-a-half years in charge and that’s more than half of their overall total.
Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the pendulum swung back towards Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp making the Reds into one of the best club sides available and leading them to every major honour.
However, things look like they might be moving back in Manchester United’s favour. Erik ten Hag has made an excellent start – he led them to the 2023 League Cup, ending a six-year trophy drought.
Ten Hag’s Red Devils look sure to finish ahead of their historic rivals and remain in contention for a further three pieces of silverware, with the FA Cup and Europa League looking like realistic ambitions. They’re also not by no means out of the title race.
Liverpool, meanwhile, look set for a trophyless campaign – if you don’t count the Community Shield they kicked off the season with back in July.
Klopp’s men were eliminated in the FA Cup by Brighton, the ceiling of their Premier League ambitions is realistically fourth, and their Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after suffering a 5-2 home defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash.
We’ve taken a look at the stats to see how their two trophy cabinets compare.
As the stats show, United have inched back ahead of Liverpool following their 2-0 League Cup final victory over Newcastle United.
The Red Devils also hold the record for the most league titles and the most Community Shields. They are also the second-most successful club in FA Cup history and have won a few continental honours, including three European Cups.
Liverpool also have some impressive records and no English side has won more League Cups, European Cups, UEFA Cups or UEFA Super Cups than them.
Some people will argue that the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup are just glorified friendlies. If you remove those two from the list, Liverpool have 46 trophies and United have 45.
Liverpool
England
– League titles: 19 (1901, 1906, 1922, 1923, 1947, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2020)
– FA Cup: 8 (1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2001, 2006, 2022)
– League Cup: 9 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2022)
– Community Shield: 16 (1964, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2006, 2022)
Europe
– European Cup: 6 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2015, 2019)
– UEFA Cup: 3 (1973, 1976, 2001)
– European Super Cup: 4 (1977, 2001, 2005, 2019)
📅 #OTD in 2019…
🔴 Liverpool become 6-time champions of Europe 🏆@LFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/RkbNEnFQyf— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 1, 2021
World
– FIFA Club World Cup: 1 (2019)
Total: 66 major trophies
Manchester United
England
– League titles: 20 (1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
– FA Cup: 12 (1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2016)
– League Cup: 6 (1992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023)
– Community Shield: 21 (1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016)
Wazza’s whip, RVP’s pinger.@ManUtd secured their 20th league title on this day in 2013.
Not a bad way to do it.pic.twitter.com/CfMSDG2c0J
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 22, 2020
Europe
– European Cup: 3 (1968, 1999, 2008)
– Europa League: 1 (2017)
– European Super Cup: 1 (1991)
– European Cup Winner’s Cup: 1 (1991)
World
– Intercontintentinal Cup: 1 (1999)
– FIFA Club World Cup: 1 (2008)
Total: 67 major trophies
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