Liverpool have achieved great success in recent years, but have they surpassed Manchester United when it comes to major titles? Legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson declared that his mission was to dethrone the club’s great rivals, Liverpool, and he has succeeded. The Scottish manager won in his time the Red Devils thirteen Premier League titles, five FA Cups and three Champions League trophies. Fergie is considered one of the greatest of all time.
Following Liverpool’s success with their sixth Champions League title in June 2019 and their nineteenth league title in 2020, manager Jürgen Klopp’s side have shown their ability to challenge once again. But which team can claim to be the most successful side on English soil and how many trophies has each side won?
Who has won the most titles in England?
Well, it depends who you ask. After Liverpool won their sixth UEFA Super Cup title in 2019, beating Chelsea via a penalty shootout in Istanbul, fans of the Reds soon that they had become the most successful club in English football.
By beating the Londoners, Liverpool won their 46th major trophy, with supporters believing they had surpassed great rivals United, who they say have 45 major trophies. While Liverpool have now won 50 major trophies – including the league, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup – they are excluding one competition.
Liverpool’s 50 major titles do not include the number of Community Shield titles won, which is the main point of discussion – as United have a record 21 Community Shields to their name, compared to Liverpool’s 16. And so, if Community Shield titles count towards the prize pool, United have one trophy more than Liverpool, who have won 66 major titles. Erik ten Hag’s club is now again the most successful team in England by winning the EFL Cup, beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the final.
Does the Community Shield count as a grand prize?
The main question between the groups of supporters is whether or not the Community Shield counts as a grand prize. Again, it depends who you ask. The FA considers the Community Shield an official honor in English football and it is also seen as the first game of the new top English season, although its status as a ‘top prize’ is disputed by certain football figures and fans.
The Community Shield is seen by some as a small prize compared to the FA Cup and EFL Cup. Some call it a ‘friendly match’ – mainly because yellow and red cards in the match do not count towards other matches.
In 2008 Ferguson stated. “The Community Shield is a prestigious competition, but I used players who were not fully fit.” However, most of the players and managers involved in the Community Shield respect its status as a major prize and consider it the first ‘final’ of the season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said of his players’ fitness ahead of the 2018 Community Shield against Chelsea: “We only have four or five days to prepare for the first final. So we have to adapt. Some of them come back before, some come back after the final.”
In addition, former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri added in 2016. “Why do you ask this, a friendly match? Since when is the Community Shield a friendly? Of course we will be maximum and Manchester United will be maximum. The two teams want to win. I am very excited.”