Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
There are few rival players who riled Liverpool fans up like Gary Neville did during his career with Manchester United.
Even since retiring from playing in 2011, Neville has often annoyed Reds fans with comments as one of the most high-profile pundits in the country, with his thinly-veiled hatred of Liverpool often coming to the surface.
However, according to the Man United legend himself, he has actually grown more fond of the Reds since retiring 15 years ago, and he has now admitted that, over time, his hatred has developed into something more respectful.
Brendan Rodgers
Neville no longer hates Liverpool
Like fellow Man United icon Wayne Rooney, who grew up supporting Everton, Neville has never attempted to hide the fact that he really, really hates Liverpool.
So, when asked by David Ornstein to name which club he did or currently does hate the most during a video for The Athletic FC Podcast, it was not a surprise to hear Neville’s answer.
“Liverpool,” he said. “When I was a kid, I hated them. Like, proper hated them, because of the fact that at school, there were kids who were Liverpool fans at my school and they were winning everything, and it was a miserable childhood, because every year you felt hope and they seemed to come through and win titles, European Cups.
“We never won the league and I really did hate them, didn’t like them at all throughout my football career, hated them.”
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However, Neville says that as he’s gotten older, he has come to realise that he has some things in common with Liverpool as a Man United supporter, and claims that his close work with Jamie Carragher also played a part in a ‘softening’ of his feelings.
“As you get older, hate is not the right word, you soften a little bit, you become more respectful, you have admiration for what they are as a club, you begin working with people who used to play for them!” he said.
“And you realise that you’ve actually got some form of alignment really. I don’t want them ever to win a football match, I don’t want them to win a trophy. I hate the idea of them winning the league, I hate the idea of them being on 20 league titles, I want us to win, simple as that. Hate’s a strong word.”
With United and Liverpool fans coming together in celebration of Manchester City being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations this week, the two do have a mutual understanding that they are the biggest clubs in the country by some distance. As Neville points out, you absolutely will not find one cheering on the other on any given week, but that does not mean that a healthy respect cannot shine through.