The fiercest Premier League rivalries ranked

Last Updated on 6 December 2025

From local bragging rights to title-deciding tension, rivalries are the heartbeat of English football. They define eras, divide cities, and create moments that live forever in memory.

The fixtures don’t really matter in these games, form goes out of the window. Teams try not to let the emotions decide the game state, but that’s exactly what happens.

Here are the top five fiercest rivalries in the Premier League.

5 – The Tynewear Derby – Newcastle United v Sunderland

Throughout the 90s, 2000s and the 2010s, Newcastle United and Sunderland produced a number of dramatic moments and extremely tense finishes.

Just 12 miles separate the two clubs and their animosity stems way back to the English Civil War in the 17th century.

However, football’s the best reason to reignite the flame with several relegation battle fixtures and many mid-table scraps setting up a fantastic fixture.

With Sunderland’s promotion back to the Premier League, the Tynewear derby is back on the fixture list, as well.

Backed by two of the most passionate fanbases, the Tynewear derby is also enjoyed so much because of how evenly matched the two clubs have been. As per 11v11, the all-time head-to-head stands at 54-53 in favour of Newcastle with 49 draws.

4 – The North London Derby – Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Few fixtures capture pure hatred like the North London Derby.

It’s not just about league position, it’s about identity. Arsenal’s move from Woolwich to North London in 1913 sparked the animosity, and it’s burned ever since.

From Wenger vs Pochettino duels to Henry’s swagger and Kane’s dominance, these games deliver everything. Emotion, chaos, and unpredictability. The derby might shift in balance, but the bragging rights mean everything in North London.

Arsenal’s historical and current success helps them in the head-to-head but Spurs have a knack for getting some big results whenever you least expect them to.

3 – The Merseyside Derby – Liverpool v Everton

Dubbed the “friendly derby” for decades, though that name feels ironic now, Liverpool vs Everton is one of England’s oldest rivalries. It’s brother against brother, red against blue, across one city divided by a park.

Once the game kicks off, family is very much forgotten. All that matters is the result and that’s the reason why this fixture has seen more sending offs than any other in Premier League history.

As expected, Liverpool heavily dominate the head-to-head between the clubs but even in recent seasons, the Blues have come up with stunning performances to rain on their neighbour’s parade.

2 – The Manchester Derby – Manchester United v Manchester City

Manchester City were dismissed as nothing more than the ‘noisy neighbours’ but since being bought by Sheikh Mansour, they have truly turned the tide on Manchester United.

It’s undeniable that for a major part in history, Manchester has been red. But it is also true that since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, Manchester has turned blue thanks to City’s dominance in the Premier League and beyond.

Sergio Aguero’s 2012 title winner, countless fiery derbies, and Pep vs Ferguson narratives have elevated this into one of the Premier League’s defining fixtures.

City are chasing the empire built by United and they make sure to tell them that the tide has turned every time they face one another.

1 – The North-West Derby – Liverpool v Manchester United

The only fixture on this list which is not actually a ‘derby’.

It’s dubbed the North-West Derby because Liverpool and Manchester United are the two most successful clubs in England. This remains England’s most historic and globally-watched rivalry. Between them, Liverpool and United dominated English football for decades.

From Sir Alex Ferguson’s vow to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’ to Liverpool becoming the most successful English club, again. This fixture always delivers.