Jamie Carragher has reignited the rivalry debate by claiming that Manchester City will never surpass Manchester United or Liverpool in terms of club stature — regardless of how many trophies they win under Pep Guardiola.The Liverpool legend made the bold statement following Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool last Sunday, which also marked Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management and his 550th match in charge of City.
Pep Guardiola’s Era of Unmatched Success
Since joining City from Bayern Munich in 2016, Pep Guardiola has transformed the club into a footballing powerhouse. His nine years at the Etihad Stadium have delivered an extraordinary list of honours, including:
- 🏆 Six Premier League titles
- 🏆 One UEFA Champions League
- 🏆 Five domestic cups
- 🏆 A historic continental Treble in 2023
Under Guardiola, City became the first team in Premier League history to exceed 100 points in a season (2017/18) and achieved four consecutive league titles — feats unmatched in English football’s modern era.
Jamie Carragher’s Bold Claim
Despite City’s dominance, Jamie Carragher insists that historical legacy and fanbase size still place Liverpool and Manchester United in a league of their own.
“Manchester City will never be bigger than Manchester United, and Liverpool vs Man City will never be bigger than Liverpool vs Man United,” Carragher told the Daily Mail. “That just won’t happen, it can’t happen.”
The former defender, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool between 1997 and 2013, continued:
“Historically, Liverpool and Manchester United will always be the biggest two clubs in the country. It’s very difficult for teams who come later. It’s almost set in stone who the huge clubs are.”
However, Carragher conceded that City could end up winning more silverware in the future:
“They may end up having more trophies and league titles if they carry on winning and if United keep not being in the shout for trophies. But it’s difficult to see any club in this country ever being above Liverpool or Manchester United in terms of size and stature.”
Manchester City’s Rise Under Sheikh Mansour
Since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008, Manchester City have undergone a remarkable transformation — both financially and globally. Their revenue in 2024 reached an all-time high of £736.64 million, surpassing both Liverpool and Manchester United.
While Manchester United still boast the world’s largest football fanbase with over 650 million global followers, City are rapidly catching up in the digital era, leading the Premier League on TikTok with 33.1 million followers.
The Legacy Debate
For many pundits, Manchester City’s modern success under Pep Guardiola represents a new era of dominance — one defined by tactical brilliance, financial stability, and elite player development. Yet, traditionalists like Carragher argue that true footballing stature is built over generations, not just through trophies.
Regardless of opinion, City’s continued rise in silverware, brand value, and fan engagement is undeniable — and the debate over who truly reigns supreme in English football shows no sign of ending soon.
— Reported by Afrosports News Desk
