Red on Red: Liverpool, Manchester United and the fiercest rivalry in world football

by Phil McNulty, Jim White

The untold story of the most contested fixture in world football ‘A must read.’ Henry Winter 'Superb.' Daniel Taylor Liverpool and Manchester. Two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. Yet the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations, across class, gender and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one football. The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. Football is not a barometer of disdain, as it is in places like Glasgow or Istanbul or Moscow. In northwest England, it is the engine of animosity. How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based? Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red addresses the divide by talking to those involved in ten seminal football matches. It speaks to the characters who patrolled and provoked the Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville, among many others. Also questioned are the fans, the administrators, the referees, the police, and politicians. And through each legendary game, its authors tell the full story of the most extraordinary division not just in football, but in modern Britain. This is Red on Red , a rivalry like no other.

Genres: Sports, Soccer, Football, History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2022

Reviews

[yung reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yung reader… what has gotten into you?! Is this a light read!?! NO! WRONG!!! This read tells the tale of a rivalry as fierce as any and truly boils the blood. Brought back some good mems, but also not that revealing hence the 3 stars

[Asbjørn Øvrehus · Rating 5 out of 5]

heia heia

[Russ Murlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book , superbly structured with really insightful stories from behind the scenes & of supporters of two great clubs.

[Andrew Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports hate, isn't real hate right? As a Liverpool fan, and Man U hater I enjoyed this. The authors gave an insider look to the hate between the two cities, and as an American there is a lot I didn't realize that led to this. But, it is sport's hate, and while if I lived there I don't think I could dive in deep as the passionate sport's fans as they describe you find there, I do sense a level of respect the two cities do have for one another. Though, from reading this, not sure if any of them would admit it.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I came away having learned a great deal about the rivalry between the two clubs, which often spilled over into a rivalry between the cities. While I enjoyed the book, there were parts of it that seemed to repeat over and over and over. I would get confused, thinking I had already read that part, when it was really just very similar to another part. I think the issue there stems from the fact that it’s harder to write about something as visceral as a rivalry without reverting to the same talking points repeatedly. I enjoyed the book structure being built around 10 important matches from the rivalry, it did help to show some of the ebbs and flows that have come in terms of team quality and fan behavior. Overall, it was enjoyable, and I think long term fans of the Premier League and English soccer would get even more out of it, as they’ll recognize the historical names and faces that populate the book. As someone who has just recently become a fan of Liverpool and the Premier League, I still enjoyed, so I think it would definitely appeal to neophytes as well (they just might need Google and Wikipedia handy).

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb sources - players, managers, journalists, fanzine editors, Metro Mayors - and comprehensive coverage of the rivalry, especially good when Liverpool were on top in the 70s and 80s.

[Bradley Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check me out on Instagram @books_boards_and_brews

Red on Red
Written by Phil McNulty and Jim White
Book 79/200
Genre: Non-fiction, Sports
Format: Digital
Pages: 320
Published: 2023
Rating: 8.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper North, Phil McNulty and Jim White for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"But Liverpool and United is different. It is the dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of the two red teams that has seeped into every aspect of life in the two conurbations."

Back-Cover Blurb:
The untold story of the most contested fixture in world football ‘A must read.’ Henry Winter 'Superb.' Daniel Taylor Liverpool and Manchester. Two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. Yet the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations, across class, gender and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one football. The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. Football is not a barometer of disdain, as it is in places like Glasgow or Istanbul or Moscow. In northwest England, it is the engine of animosity. How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based? Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red addresses the divide by talking to those involved in ten seminal football matches. It speaks to the characters who patrolled and provoked the Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville, among many others. Also questioned are the fans, the administrators, the referees, the police, and politicians. And through each legendary game, its authors tell the full story of the most extraordinary division not just in football, but in modern Britain. This is Red on Red , a rivalry like no other.

As a huge fan of the English Premier League, I absolutely could not pass this ARC up! McNulty and White present the definitive history of the greatest rivalry in Premier League football. A must read for any fans of the sport.

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liverpool and Manchester United were two culturally vibrant teams. The dark rivalry between the two teams, however, seeped its way into the surrounding towns. A blood-filled history between the two teams, the narrative-style non-fiction is vivid and detailed. The facts and history were insightful. The behavior and attitudes of the teams and their manager, however, are strong and may not appeal to some readers. Fans of either team, soccer, and sports tales may enjoy reading this book.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

[S Ravishankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent narrative of the football rivalry between two major cities in the northwest of England - Liverpool and Manchester. These two clubs have achieved much glory and silverware over the past 60 years. Along the way they have clashed in matches; many of these have been historical. This book captures the footballing heights of these matches as also the background of the rivalry between the clubs. An enthralling read for fans who followed the highs and lows of either club.

[Shane O · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting book on the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester united.the book explores ten key games between united and Liverpool and provides the history behind them and how they changed after the game,unfortunately the writer does get some key dates wrong such as when united beat Liverpool 3-1 in April 1997 to secure their 5 Premier league title in 6 years,the writer wrongly says this game happened in February 1997,but apart from that a very good interesting book

[SheMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an American who doesn't know a lot about English football, I didn't understand some of the book especially since it was almost an oral history that relied a great deal on interviews. On the other hand, the cultural history was interesting and I enjoyed learning while certain names are famous: Ferguson, Cantona, Beckham, Hillsborough, etc.

[Leah Gilson-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual genre of book but as a huge United fan I thought I would give it a go! I loved the structure of the book really well thought out and flows really nice. Such an interesting read with the rivalry captured so well! Really recommend reading if you are a fan of either club or just of football itself

[Johnboy Somerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative look into the rivalry between two massive clubs, with experienced shared by ex players, coaches, pundits and fans. Ramped up in the time of Sir Alex' tenure this book explains why he was so keen to "knock them off their... perch"

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible in depth look at a conflict that I, as an American, could barely understand. Now the animosity between "Manc" and "Scouser" is more clear than ever before. A must read for any United fan or Liverpool fan especially if you are not from England yourself.

[Arne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny about the great rivalry between the two big red clubs in the North East. Drags on a bit towards the end maybe, but good fun if you follow one or the other of these two teams.

[William Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good. Anchoring chapters around critical matches was smart.

[Jamie Horan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very average stuff, some interesting interviews but overall heavily Liverpool oriented view of some matches against United

[Marietere T · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Footy nerd, I really liked reading more about the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool.

[Tatum Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Extremely insightful and makes both parties appreciate the significance of their football culture. Great book.

[Colin A · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5. Really good book looking at how the rivalry between Liverpool and Man U developed over the years. Really enjoyed it, except when I had to read about the Mancs winning 🤣

[Helen Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent researched and written book. Such insight into the rivalry of the two clubs, brings each of the chosen games to life.

[Literati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book for sure-Far too much Gary Neville for my tastes.