Man United v Liverpool? Newcastle v Sunderland? What is the biggest derby in English football?

BEST – Tyne-Wear derby

Despite the aforementioned three, and few others like the Manchester derby, the Bristol derby, and the Merseyside derby, it’s the Tyne-Wear derby which tops this list.

This is a match which defines a season and, in recent times, it has been the difference between staying in the top-flight, and going down to the Championship.

The North-East live and breathe football.

Whereas you’ve got all the London rivalries, the Midlands rivalries, and others, there’s something about this one that feels like it means more to the people of the two cities.

Work colleagues and friends could be split – it is genuine bragging rights, and it’s bragging rights that Sunderland fans have at the moment, having won six of the last seven derbies.

At 53 wins each, it’s also one of the most competitive, and one that, based on where the two sides are at the moment, we’re unfortunately not going to see too much of in the next few years.