After Liverpool's sweep against Aston Villa, the Premiership race is most definitely back on and if the Anfield boys can sustain this level of performance, Sir Alex Ferguson's United will have to work much harder for their 18th league title - the tension is definitely rising.

Before this however, their rivalry had already started. Partly due to the close proximity of the two north-west cities being just 42 miles apart. But also they are the two most successful teams in England.

This rivalry is so intense that since the 1964 transfer of Phil Chisnall from United to Liverpool, no player has been transferred since. When they do meet it is always the "the most famous fixture in English football" described by United star Ryan Giggs.

The two clubs have developed a vicious hatred of each other, fuelled by incidents of hooliganism in the 80s and 90s. In this intense atmosphere, boiling point is often reached and authorities are forced to work very hard to avoid major confrontation.