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Derby Days

Derby Days

Derby Days

The most competitive matches in the Premier League are often 'Derby' matches. A 'derby' is a match between local rivals. i.e. teams that are from the same city or the same part of the country. These local games have a special place in the hearts of fans and players.  Let's take a look at three of these passionate fixtures.

Note: Pronunciation

Derby = /dɑ:bi:/ (rhymes with Barbie)

The Merseyside Derby 

Liverpool and Everton scarvesThe Merseyside Derby is played between Everton and Liverpool. It is called the Merseyside Derby after the River Mersey which flows through the city of Liverpool. The Merseyside Derby was first played in 1894 and has been played 221 times, with Liverpool winning 88 times and Everton 66 times. Everton and Liverpool football grounds are about 1 kilometre from each other and are the closest rival stadiums in the Premier League. 

The Tyne and Wear Derby

The Tyne Wear DerbyThis derby match is not between two teams from the same city like in Liverpool, but between two teams from cities that are very near each other in the North East of England: Newcastle and Sunderland. The derby between Newcastle Utd and Sunderland was first played in 1888. It has been played 143 times, with Sunderland winning 45 times and Newcastle 53. It is called The Tyne and Wear Derby after the rivers that flow through the cities: The Tyne (Newcastle) and The Wear (Sunderland).

The West Midlands Derby

Aston Villa's Gabriel AgbonlahorAston Villa and West Bromwich Albion football clubs are only 4 miles (6.4 km) apart. Traditionally, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers are their strongest rivals. However, those clubs are not in the Premier League so this match has become more important in the battle for supremacy in the West Midlands. This match has been played 141 times, with Aston Villa winning 65 times and West Brom 45 times. The first league meeting between the two teams was in 1889.

Why are Derby matches so important?

Local pride is the main reason, fans of both clubs see each other at school, work and sometimes even in the same family every day. When your club has won it is much easier to go to school or work the day after the game to boast about your team's victory.

Derby matches are often very difficult to predict as they are usually played at a very fast pace with lots of tackles and fouls. The Merseyside Derby is the fixture with most red cards in Premier League history (20). In every derby match, you will see lots of passion from fans and players as two local rivals go head to head for victory.

Liverpool and Steven Gerrard won 4-0 against Everton in January 2014

What did you understand?

 
How much did you understand?

Choose the best answer. Can you get all the answers right?

Activity 1: In this activity, try to answer the questions to show how much of the article you understand. What did you learn about derby matches in the Premier League? Do you think these are the most important matches for the fans?

 


 

Useful Vocabulary

Match the words to the definitions.

Activity 2: Derby matches are very passionate games. In this activity, learn some vocabulary from the article about derby matches. Before you try the activity, can you think of any words that you might use to describe a derby match?

 


Fabio Borini got one of the goals for Sunderland in the Tyne Wear Derby in February 2014

Quiz

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What do you think?

What is your favourite derby match in the Premier League?

What derby matches are there in your country?

Are these the most important games for the fans?

Let us know in the comments section below.

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Comments

Eshaan_Shabeer's picture
Eshaan_Shabeer
28/10/2023
IN
377
points

1. My favourite derby in the premier league is Manchester Derby (Manchester City vs Manchester United).
2. Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru (Indian Super League).
3. Yes they are very important.


Eshaan_Shabeer's picture
Eshaan_Shabeer
28/10/2023 08:46
India
Manchester City
377

1. My favourite derby in the premier league is Manchester Derby (Manchester City vs Manchester United).
2. Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru (Indian Super League).
3. Yes they are very important.

KareemZain
03/08/2023
EG
383
points

1. My favourite derby match in the premier league is Manchester City vs Manchester United.
2. Zamalek vs Al-Ahly.
3. Yes, they are.


KareemZain
03/08/2023 15:54
Egypt
Manchester City
383

1. My favourite derby match in the premier league is Manchester City vs Manchester United.
2. Zamalek vs Al-Ahly.
3. Yes, they are.

sebii13
02/06/2021
RO
38
points

My favorite derby match in the Premier League is Liverpool against Everton.
In my country the most important derby is Steaua Bucharest against Dinamo Bucharest.


sebii13
02/06/2021 11:45
Romania
Liverpool
38

My favorite derby match in the Premier League is Liverpool against Everton.
In my country the most important derby is Steaua Bucharest against Dinamo Bucharest.

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
22/03/2021
BR
1512
points

My favourite is Man Utd against Man City.
There are a lot of derby matches in Brazil. Especially in São Paulo state, where I live, that we have at least 4 clubs playing the first division since ever and fighting for the top positions at the table.
For the fans these are obviously the most important matches because of the rivalry envolved.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
22/03/2021 14:51
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

My favourite is Man Utd against Man City.
There are a lot of derby matches in Brazil. Especially in São Paulo state, where I live, that we have at least 4 clubs playing the first division since ever and fighting for the top positions at the table.
For the fans these are obviously the most important matches because of the rivalry envolved.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
06/07/2020
TR
6539
points

The Manchester derby for sure between United and City.
In İzmir we have Göztepe vs Karşıyaka which is a famous derby here.
Mostly yes but there are other vital and exciting games as well between the best two teams in the country.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
06/07/2020 18:44
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

The Manchester derby for sure between United and City.
In İzmir we have Göztepe vs Karşıyaka which is a famous derby here.
Mostly yes but there are other vital and exciting games as well between the best two teams in the country.

Izabela
05/07/2020
BR
1505
points

Nice


Izabela
05/07/2020 23:38
Brazil
Newcastle United
1505

Nice

Mosessystem
26/04/2018
SE
12
points

Very good


Mosessystem
26/04/2018 07:47
Sweden
Everton
12

Very good

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016
GH
4779
points

They are the most important games for fans as it somewhat determines who might win the cup and offers the fans some bragging rights


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016 11:14
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

They are the most important games for fans as it somewhat determines who might win the cup and offers the fans some bragging rights

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016
GH
4779
points

Accra Hearts of Oak vrs Kumasi Asante Kotoko


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016 11:13
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Accra Hearts of Oak vrs Kumasi Asante Kotoko

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016
GH
4779
points

The Manchester derby


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
05/07/2016 11:12
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

The Manchester derby

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016
PS
3705
points

Derbies in my country is less exciting than in Europe.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016 12:37
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Derbies in my country is less exciting than in Europe.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016
PS
3705
points

Yes they are.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016 12:36
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes they are.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016
PS
3705
points

It is the Merseyside Derby.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
08/04/2016 12:36
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

It is the Merseyside Derby.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
14/12/2015
ME
3557
points

I also enjoyed in The Old Firm derby, but unfortunately I'll have to wait more to see that match..


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
14/12/2015 15:16
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

I also enjoyed in The Old Firm derby, but unfortunately I'll have to wait more to see that match..

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
15/11/2015
RW
2320
points

My favourite derby is north London derby,Arsenal vs Spurs


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
15/11/2015 09:14
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

My favourite derby is north London derby,Arsenal vs Spurs

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
28/10/2015
ME
3557
points

Merseyside derby definitely. Also the north-west derby between L'pool and Man.Utd and north London derby between Arsenal and Tott'ham. Love it! In my country there is a local derby between FC Buducnost and FC Mladost. It used to be very important but at the moment the league has poor quality.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
28/10/2015 21:37
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

Merseyside derby definitely. Also the north-west derby between L'pool and Man.Utd and north London derby between Arsenal and Tott'ham. Love it! In my country there is a local derby between FC Buducnost and FC Mladost. It used to be very important but at the moment the league has poor quality.

Salloum's picture
Salloum
29/09/2015
SY
1308
points

Derby of Manchester


Salloum's picture
Salloum
29/09/2015 02:15
Syria
Manchester United
1308

Derby of Manchester

Anec's picture
Anec
09/07/2014
LK
0
points

Thank you for the article, didn't knew much about derby matches before.


Anec's picture
Anec
09/07/2014 10:57
Sri Lanka
Chelsea
0

Thank you for the article, didn't knew much about derby matches before.

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Goals

In this article, you will:

• Practise reading

• Learn some vocabulary about derby matches

• Test your comprehension