Liverpool and Manchester United are level on 20 English league titles each, the most in the country’s history, which makes the “bigger club” debate as tight as it has ever been. Liverpool lead on European trophies and total major honors, while United hold the head to head record and the more valuable brand. Here is how the two giants compare, one criterion at a time.
Why this rivalry is so hard to settle
Barely 35 miles separate Anfield from Old Trafford, and the rivalry between the two cities goes back to the industrial age, long before either club lifted a trophy. On the field, both have taken turns ruling English soccer.
Liverpool owned the 1970s and 1980s under Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. United answered with a golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson, who turned Old Trafford into the center of the Premier League for more than two decades.
There is a strong American thread too. Liverpool belong to Fenway Sports Group, the owners of the Boston Red Sox, and the Glazer family, who also run the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, still hold a majority stake in United. Both clubs tour the US regularly and count millions of fans here.
Domestic honors: a perfect stalemate at the top
The league title race between these two clubs is finally a dead heat. Liverpool drew level with United’s 20 championships by winning the 2024/25 Premier League, the Reds’ second title of the Premier League era after 2019/20.
- English league titles: Liverpool 20, Manchester United 20
The split in eras is striking. Liverpool won 18 of their titles before 1992, while 13 of United’s 20 came in the Premier League under Ferguson.
The domestic cups barely move the needle. United lead the FA Cup count 13 to 8, and Liverpool hold the English record for League Cups with 10 to United’s 6. That adds up to 19 domestic cups for United and 18 for Liverpool, so this round is a draw.
European pedigree: Liverpool pull clear
Europe is where Liverpool open a real gap. The Reds have lifted the European Cup six times, in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005 and 2019, more than any other English club.
- European Cup and Champions League titles: Liverpool 6, Manchester United 3
The 2005 final in Istanbul, when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at halftime to beat AC Milan on penalties, still ranks among the greatest comebacks the sport has seen. Add three UEFA Cups and four UEFA Super Cups and Liverpool sit on 13 European trophies.
United’s continental story is iconic in its own way. The 1968 triumph came ten years after the Munich air disaster, and the 1999 final against Bayern Munich, won with two goals in stoppage time, sealed a historic treble. The 2008 win in Moscow, a 2017 Europa League, a Cup Winners’ Cup and a Super Cup take United to six European trophies. Point Liverpool.
Head to head: United keep the bragging rights
When these two meet, United have historically come out on top. Across all competitions, the Red Devils hold a clear lead in wins dating back to the 1890s.
- All time head to head wins: Manchester United 85, Liverpool 72
Liverpool have produced some of the most lopsided results in the fixture’s modern history, including the 7-0 rout at Anfield in March 2023, United’s heaviest league defeat in decades. But United swept both league meetings in 2025/26, winning 2-1 at Anfield in October and 3-2 at Old Trafford in May. Point United.
Money and global reach: United by a whisker
This is the closest category of all, because the two main financial rankings point in opposite directions. Forbes valued United at $7.2 billion in 2026, third in the world, with Liverpool fourth at $6.2 billion.
Deloitte’s Money League tells the other side. Liverpool generated €836.1 million in revenue in 2025, finishing fifth in Europe and becoming the highest earning English club for the first time, while United slipped to eighth with €793.1 million.
United’s dip is tied to their absence from the 2024/25 Champions League, and Deloitte still describes them as arguably the biggest club brand in global soccer. United have topped the Money League in 10 of its 29 editions. On reach and brand power, United edge it.
The modern era: Liverpool own the last decade
Since Ferguson retired in 2013, Liverpool have been the better club by almost any measure. Under Jürgen Klopp and then Arne Slot, they won two league titles, the 2019 Champions League, the 2019 Club World Cup, an FA Cup and two League Cups.
United have collected trophies in that span too, with FA Cups in 2016 and 2024, League Cups in 2017 and 2023 and the 2017 Europa League. They have not won the league since 2012/13.
The tide may be turning, though. United finished third in 2025/26 with 71 points, eleven clear of fifth place Liverpool, and Bruno Fernandes was named Premier League Player of the Season. For now, the decade still belongs to Liverpool. Point Liverpool.
The verdict
After five rounds, the scorecard reads Liverpool 2, Manchester United 2, with domestic honors tied. The tiebreaker comes down to the one thing every big club is ultimately measured by: silverware.
- Major trophies (excluding the Community Shield): Liverpool 52, Manchester United 47
Liverpool take it by the narrowest of margins, carried by their European record. United remain the bigger global brand, and a return to title contention would reopen the debate quickly. The next chapter arrives on November 22, when Liverpool host United at Anfield, live in the US on Peacock and NBC.
Frequently asked questions
Who has more trophies, Liverpool or Manchester United?
Liverpool have won 52 major trophies to United’s 47 when the Community Shield is left out. The gap comes almost entirely from Europe, where Liverpool have 13 titles to United’s 6.
Who has won more English league titles?
Neither. Both clubs have won 20 English top flight titles, the joint record. Liverpool drew level by winning the 2024/25 Premier League.
Who leads the Liverpool vs Manchester United head to head?
Manchester United lead the all time series, with 85 wins to Liverpool’s 72 across all competitions. United also won both league meetings in 2025/26.
Where can I watch Liverpool and Manchester United in the US?
Every Premier League match is broadcast by NBC Sports, with most games streaming on Peacock. Both clubs are also in the 2026/27 Champions League, which streams on Paramount+.