“The Past Rivalry and Present Friendship: Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville, and Rio Ferdinand”

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most storied and intense in football history. For many years, it even spilled over into the international arena, with players on both sides struggling to put their club loyalties aside when playing for England. However, in recent years, things have changed, and former players like Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand have spoken out about how they now consider their former rivals as friends.

Steven Gerrard, who played for Liverpool for most of his career, was one of England’s most prominent players during his time on the national team. He played in 114 matches for the country, but unfortunately, he was never able to help England break their long wait for silverware. And while he was on the team, tensions between Liverpool and Manchester United could spill over into the England camp.

Gerrard admits that it was hard to put his club rivalries aside when playing for England against players like Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville. He says that there was a feeling of “hatred” between the players when they lined up against each other in the tunnel. However, despite the animosity on the pitch, Gerrard says that he has nothing but respect for Ferdinand as a player and as a person. Since retiring, the two have even worked together at BT Sport.

Rio Ferdinand has also talked about how the intense rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool affected the England team. He says that he was so obsessed with beating Liverpool when playing for United that he found it hard to open up to Liverpool players like Gerrard and Jamie Carragher when they played together for England. Ferdinand now realizes that this was a mistake and that it hurt England’s chances at the time.

One of the major reasons why the animosity between Liverpool and Manchester United has diminished is the appointment of Gareth Southgate as England manager. Southgate has made it his priority to put club differences aside when players come together for international duty. Under his leadership, England has made it to the quarterfinals and semifinals of the World Cup and the final of the European Championships.

In conclusion, the intense rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United has had a major impact on the England national team over the years. Former players like Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand have spoken out about how it affected their relationships with players from the opposing team when they played for England. However, with the appointment of Gareth Southgate as manager, things have changed, and club rivalries are put aside for the good of the national team.