The inside story of how Liverpool fans pulled off a brilliant stunt a stone's throw from Old Trafford to rile supporters of their greatest rivals Manchester United
16:03, 15 May 2025Updated 16:04, 15 May 2025
The advert for Liverpool supporters' podcast The Anfield Wrap on the Trafford Arch in Manchester
The advert for Liverpool supporters' podcast The Anfield Wrap on the Trafford Arch in Manchester(Image: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Manchester United fans were left raging when Liverpool supporters celebrated their historic Premier League win with a savage banner near Old Trafford.
A giant illuminated advertising hoarding over the main road passing United's stadium read: "Manchester, just 37 miles to the country's most successful football club." Arne Slot's side won the title at a canter in April, while United are slumped in 16th place and praying a win in the Europa League final will salvage something from their worst season in 50 years.
Even worse for long suffering Red Devils fans, Liverpool's success means they tied United on 20 league titles each, while the Anfield giants also have a trophy cabinet boasting six European Cups, compared to United's three. The champions have now won 52 major trophies, while United have only lifted 47.
Liverpool supporters podcast The Anfield Wrap were keen to remind their rivals of that fact when they carried out the cheeky stunt on Tuesday. Some United fans took it in good humour, remembering when they unfurled a '19 times' flag at Anfield in 2011, or flew a plane with a banner reading 'United 20 Gerrard 0' in 2014.
But others were mocked for being 'rattled' as they lost their heads worse than Andre Onana at a corner, or Sir Jim Ratcliffe when Susan from accounts forgets to turn off the lights in the office before she goes home.
The electronic billboard went viral around the world
The electronic billboard went viral around the world(Image: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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One United fan, forgetting the days when the Old Trafford faithful indulged in similar taunts, ranted: "Hated, adored, never ignored. Just shows who the smaller club is with antics like this."
Another, who tried to count the ceremonial friendly the Charity/Community Shield as a major trophy, moaned: "Putting up factually incorrect stuff are we." And a third provoked more ridicule, claiming: "If we beat Spurs, nobody will even remember they finally got to 20."
Craig Hannan, head of marketing at The Anfield Wrap, said the location and timing of the billboard was carefully chosen for maximum impact. He said: "We actually originally had the idea when Liverpool won the title in 2020, so we've been patient!
"Back then because of Covid we knew Liverpool fans weren't able to come to the city to celebrate so we wanted to bring the celebrations to them - so we put billboards in key cities across the UK and Ireland, with messaging that was centred around their distance or relationship to Liverpool.
Arsenal fans need not feel left out of the taunting
Arsenal fans need not feel left out of the taunting, as a sign that went up in London in 2020 has also gone viral(Image: The Anfield Wrap)
"Our London billboard from 2020 said 'London, you are now 220 miles from the Champions' and it went viral again this year with Arsenal challenging Liverpool in the title race. Manchester didn't feel quite right to do in 2020, and the timing had to be perfect.
"Given that this time was Liverpool's 20th title and we're the most successful club in the country, while everything about Manchester United is feeling so bleak - now was perfect.
"I've driven under that billboard countless times thinking The Anfield Wrap have to do something there...and now the Reds are champions, the manager is partying in Ibiza, the players are in Dubai on a yacht and the fans are having fun in Manchester!"
The Anfield Wrap knew that once the billboard went up near Old Trafford, it would soon attract plenty of attention. Hannan said: "Putting it above a dual carriageway also helped ensure nobody could damage it. But there was definitely something fun about the idea of United fans driving towards a huge red billboard and not being able to look anywhere else!
"The Anfield Wrap are a fan-led media company, we're all match going fans, and this kind of work is just an extension of what fans have done in grounds for years with banners - celebrating and crowing at the expense of rivals. We've just decided to put it on one of the biggest billboards in Manchester! No malice, just a bit of (factual) fun.
"What we want to do as a business is celebrate the football club and its achievements at times like this - it cost around £2,000 but the response to it has been overwhelming.
"Worldwide press attention including on Sky Sports News, but most of all the sentiment among LFC fans has been overwhelmingly positive as you'd expect - they've revelled in it - and we've done it for them."
Even the likes of United legend turned Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has been forced to admit that the balance of power has shifted between the two great rivals of English football.
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He confessed: "Talking about your bread and butter being the league title, you know, the accolade of the most successful club you could debate it maybe when United were on 20 titles, and obviously Liverpool do have more European Cups.
"But once Liverpool get level with Man United the painful thing to say is unfortunately the debate is over for a period until Manchester United become successful again and win leagues.
"It should cause real tremors over at Old Trafford the idea that Liverpool, which is obviously a great football club, and now the most successful club."