There is nothing quite like a local derby when it comes to the sporting world. But when it comes to football in Britain, the chaos and passion brought on by these intense rivalries create an experience like none other.
The atmosphere is pure electricity – high stakes, bragging rights, and some good old-fashioned football hatred all rolled into 90 minutes.
Derbies go way back to when clubs were rooted to their local communities rather than the global powerhouses they are today.
Once the schedule is released, fans circle one day above all, derby day.
Win, and you’ve got the upper hand in every office debate until the next time they meet.
If you lose, you’ll be wanting to hide for weeks.
This week one of the most heated rivalries in English football takes centre stage. Liverpool and Everton will meet at Anfield in the Merseyside Derby.
There’s going to be pressure no matter the game but derbies bring out something special and unique to football.
So which derby deserves to be crowned the top in all of football?
Take a look at our list and decide for yourself.
Old Firm Derby – Celtic vs Rangers
We’re going to kick this off with a bang. Widley regarded as the most intense and storied clashes in world football, the Catholics vs the Protestants.
The rivalry goes well beyond sport but Old Firm Derbies are always a pulsating spectacle that sets Glasgow alight with passion and emotion.
Their last meeting came just under two weeks ago with Rangers winning it in the death by three goals to two.
Rangers may have the upper hand during their league meetings but Celtic took the Scottish and the League cup. They also lead the Scottish Premiership with three matches to go.
The two sides have met in competition 445 times and remarkably split the head to head stats at 171 each and 103 draws. It’s just as close when it comes to titles. Rangers lead with 55 titles but Celtic have rapidly closed in with nine straight from 2012-2020 and have this season all but wrapped up.
Look at what it means to these fans, they are absolutely rocking Celtic park!
A Kiwi youtuber documented the intense rivalry on the channel The Department of Information and is more than worth a watch.
North London Derby – Arsenal vs Tottenham
One of the newer derbies in English football but it still has roots dating back to 1887 when the two sides first met in a friendly. It was Royal Arsenal from South London at that stage who travelled north to take on Spurs. The match was abandoned for bad light with Spurs leading 2-1 but it essentially planted the seed that would turn into a colossal feud.
In 1913, Arsenal relocated from Woolwich to Highbury not far from Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. The move into Spurs’ turf infuriated fans turning a distant rivalry into a bitter local grudge.
The rivalry was cemented when Arsenal leapfrogged Tottenham and got the nod to join the expanded first division thanks to a contentious vote from the Football League.
Tottenham have had their share of successes such as a 3-1 semi-final win at Wembley, a match that propelled them to a trophy.
But it’s fair to say that Arsenal have had the better of the rivalry in recent history including a win at White Hart Lane to secure the 2004 title.
If you’ve got a spare 9 minutes, you want regret watching these derby moments that increasingly get more and more heated.
Manchester Derby – Manchester City vs Manchester United
The Manchester Derby has been going on for over a century but has only been relevant for the last 15 years.
You could argue that United’s biggest rivals were one of the other big clubs but now Manchester is truly a two team city.
After City’s new owners bought them to the pinnacle of English football they’ve seen a continuation of success they are now a global powerhouse, a long way from the scrappy underdogs they once were.
Winning the league for the first time in 2011/12 marked a turning point for City and their 6-1 thrashing of United at Old Trafford will go down in history as it set the tone for their historic season.
This fixture thrives on its moments of flare. Wayne Rooney’s 2011 bicycle kick for United—a jaw-dropping, match-winning stunner remains iconic.
As does Mario Balotelli’s “Why Always Me?” taunt in City’s 6-1 rout.
Merseyside Derby – Everton vs Liverpool
Goodison Park and Anfield are less than a stone’s throw away from each other, separated only by Stanley Park.
The rivalry was ignited after Everton were ousted from Anfield in 1892 and Liverpool moved in. Their first meeting came at Anfield in 1894 and has since been dubbed ‘The Friendly Derby’ due to the many local families having supporters for both sides.
It’s now a case of either sporting the big boys or the underdogs thanks to Everton’s struggles to stay in the topflight.
Everton will say goodbye to Goodison Park at the end of this season.
The final derby at Goodison was postponed because of weather, but when they eventually met, Everton managed a scrappy 2-2 draw thanks to a 98th minute equaliser with red cards following for both sides.
A fitting way to say goodbye to Goodison.
Second City Derby – Aston Villa vs Birmingham City
This is less of a polished spectacle and more of a working-class brawl.
Birmingham City and Aston Villa have been at it for years battling in the heart of the UK’s ‘Second City’.
Villa Park and St Andrew’s are separated by 3.9km and although fixtures are few and far between due to Birmingham’s struggles to stay in the top flight they always put on a heated contest.
These fixtures are chaotic and Villa fans are always reminded of Peter Enckelman’s 2002 howler; letting a throw-in roll under his foot and into the back of the net aiding Birmingham to a 3-0 win.
Players like Jack Grealish copped it from Birmingham fans when he captained the side in 2019. Having been pelted with coins and punched in the back of the head, he managed the last laugh scoring the winner in the heated affair.
Off the field it gets ugly too, post-match riots in 1908 and a pitch invasion in 2002 embody the venom in this bitter rivalry.
In response to Birmingham’s iconic 3-0 win in 2002, the Villans love to remind everyone of this day back in 2008.
Dockers Derby – Millwall vs West Ham
Born from the gritty streets of East London, coined the ‘Dockers Derby’ as both fanbases were primarily dockers, toiling away at shipyards on either side of the Thames.
Often employed by competing firms, the battles on the pitch meant much more than just a game of football. The hooliganism off the field was led by West Ham’s ‘The Firm’ and Millwall’s ‘Bushwackers’ who would lock horns every time the two teams met.
In 1987 Millwall’s on-pitch fortune turned for the better, registering a win at Uptown Park for the first time in 73 years.