Jamie Carragher has claimed that Manchester City and Liverpool's rivalry is the 'greatest' in the history of English football.
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City and Liverpool are both currently considered two of, if not the, best teams in the world and are battling it out on three fronts, with the Reds having already won the Carabao Cup.
They are hoping to win an unprecedented quadruple this season, as they chase the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup and City could stand in their way on all three fronts, chasing their own Treble.
Manchester United are the only team to have won the Treble in England in the past, and Sir Alex Ferguson's side did so in opposition with Arsenal, defeating the Gunners in the FA Cup semi final and beating them to the league by one point, on the last day of the season.
The two sides finished one and two to each other in the league on five occasions, and there were some huge flash points in their rivalry, but Carragher believes the current clash is a 'greater' rivalry, mostly due to the quality of the two sides.
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"There is a uniqueness to it. This is the first time the two best teams in England are the two best teams in the world, led by the two greatest coaches of their generation," the former Liverpool defender wrote in his column in the Telegraph.
Arguing against the rivalry between Fergie's side and the one managed by Arsene Wenger, that saw the two sides finish one and two in the Premier League five times, Carragher mentioned their lack of rivalry in Europe.
"Arsenal were United’s closest challengers when Ferguson’s side completed the treble in 1999, edged out in the Premier League and FA Cup," he added.
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"But their rivalry never infiltrated the Champions League, aside from a semi-final in 2009, by which time Arsenal were not the force they were."
Carragher also argued that the two sides couldn't always claim to be the best two in Europe, whilst City and Liverpool can lay claim to that, despite neither being champions of Europe currently - which is a fair statement because being Champions League winners doesn't by definition make you the best in Europe as it's a knockout tournament.
Arguing that the current top of the table rivalry 'ticks every box,' the Sky Sports pundit said, "They are among the best teams to ever play in English football, guided by legendary coaches, who are well ahead of everyone else in this country.
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"...Whenever City meets Liverpool, I see it as the best team in the world with the ball coming up against the best team in the world without it.
"That is a little simplistic. Liverpool are well-tuned at keeping possession, and City expertly drilled to get it back, but there is a style contrast which makes it one of the most tactically exciting games."
Carragher's arguments that the two sides are above anything on the pitch, in terms of quality, of previous rivalries in English football certainly holds some credence.
However many will point to the fact that there is nowhere near the needle that existed between United and Arsenal, or even Chelsea and United, or Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League era.
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Whoever does come out on top in the current rivalry could certainly go down as the best team in the Premier League's history, especially if they go on to equal or even beat the feat by Fergie's side in 1999.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Jamie Carragher, Premier League
