EXCLUSIVE
A former Liverpool star has insisted the club's rivalry with Manchester United has much 'more hatred' involved than the one with Manchester City.
The Reds travel to the City's Etihad on Saturday, live on talkSPORT, with the 2021/22 title rivals going head-to-head in a top of the table clash.
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Despite being in similar geographical proximity to traditional rivals Man United, Man City had never really been on Liverpool's radars until the last decade.
Before being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 and going on to win seven Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, a Champions League and six Leagues Cups since, City hadn't challenged for trophies for some time and were even in the second tier in 2001/02.
The Reds are also famed for being the enemies of Everton too, with both clubs situated less than a mile apart, so already had a top rival to focus on.
But despite City a few classic title races, including one where they pipped the Merseysiders to the title by one point two seasons ago, ex-Reds Danny Murphy insists the club's rivalry with City is nowhere near as big as the one with Man United.
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That's despite the Red Devils only winning one trophy since 2017 and barely battling for top spot since 2013.
Joining talkSPORT's White and Jordan for his regular Wednesday spot, Murphy, who played at Anfield between 1997 and 2004, was quick to give his answer on the debate.
"No," he replied when asked if the City rivalry was overtaking United's. "I think there's been some bigger games in recent years because of them fighting the title out and the games have become more pivotal and monumental in the moment.
"But the rivalry of Liverpool and Man United will always be greater than Liverpool Man City, irrelevant of what's going on in the league."
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Whilst Liverpool and Man City are the only teams to win the Premier League since Chelsea did in 2017, the Reds' rivalry with the red side of Manchester has been going on for much, much longer.
There's a reason why some fans of each club regard it as a bigger rivalry than their respective local derbies.
Each club claim supremacy over the other, with United boasting 20 league titles to Liverpool's 19 and Liverpool for being European champions six times compared to United's three.
And it's that history that leads Murphy and Liverpool fans to believe the rivalry with the Red Devils is the biggest.
"There's more hatred there. There's more rivalry, it goes back decades that," he said.
"The Liverpool-City thing would have to grow a little bit more. But, it's a bigger game for Liverpool in many ways."
Should Jurgen Klopp's side win all three points this weekend, they'll go above City and top of the league, with Pep Guardiola's side just one point above them as fans prepare to welcome back Premier League action.