Rivalries of the Barclays Premier League
Rivalries in the British Premier League are some of the fiercest in the soccer world. There are many ways a rivalry can be formed. There could be one between two teams that is formed because they are in the same city or nearby each other. One could be made because two teams are at the top of their game. Another rivalry could be stated because something special happened long ago when they played each other.
The first rivalry is Liverpool and Manchester United. Although Manchester United leads the series with more wins, Liverpool has more major honors. Manchester is known for its manufacturing while Liverpool is known for its importance of port. When the Manchester Ship Canal was built, ships could bypass Liverpool and transport its goods directly to Manchester. The Canal meant less dues for Liverpool merchants which resulted in job losses at the port and resentment from the people of Liverpool. Also, the crest of Manchester United includes a ship representing Manchester Ship Canal and reflects on its trade roots. This was the key incident that started the rivalry.
The North London Derby featured Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal dominates this series with 78 wins over Tottenham’s 55. The two teams had been peacefully playing each other since 1887. However, a big rivalry was established in 1913 when Arsenal moved from the Manor Ground to Arsenal stadium, Highbury, just four miles from Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. By doing this, they became Tottenham’s closest neighbor thus starting a natural rivalry. Arsenal fans celebrate St. Totteringham’s day on which is the day in the season when Tottenham cannot mathematically finish above Arsenal in the league table.
The Chelsea and Arsenal rivalry is perhaps my favorite because in my house, I am the Arsenal fan and my brother is the Chelsea fan. The rivalry started when they actually started playing each other in 1907. It was the first time that two London clubs played each other which started a natural rivalry. The 2007 League Cup Final when they played each other 100 years later was one of the most noted incidents. The game featured two yellow cards and three red cards which resulted in Chelsea fans throwing celery at Arsenal players.
This last derby known as the Manchester derby features Manchester United and Manchester City. Manchester City plays at Eithad Stadium while Old Trafford is home to Manchester United. The first derby meeting was in 1881 when West Gorton later named Manchester City hosted Newton Heath who would go on to become Manchester United. The two teams were dominant in the Manchester area which strengthened the rivalry more. They were close neighbors and what I mean by close is a block away. Can you imagine if you were a soccer player going to an away game a block away? They eventually became natural, intense rivals who got to the top of the league table.
