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HarperNorth has netted the “definitive history” of the footballing rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United by BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty and Jim White.
Jonathan de Peyer, senior commissioning editor, acquired world English language rights to Red on Red: Liverpool, Manchester United and the fiercest rivalry in world football from Sarah Williams at the Sophie Hicks Agency. It will publish in August 2022.
The synopsis says: “Liverpool and Manchester are two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. But the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations, across class and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one thing: football.
“The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based?
“Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red will address the divide by talking to those involved in 10 seminal football matches, including the characters who patrolled and provoked the rivalry: Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville, among many others.”
White said: “I have long wanted to examine the history of ‘red on red’ loathing and I can think of no better companions on the search than Phil McNulty, a man who knows Liverpool and football, and HarperNorth, a publisher dedicated to northern tales.”
McNulty added: “The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is steeped in history and culture, classic catalysts for any great football feud. Jim White’s experience, expertise and great humour made him the perfect collaborator to investigate both sides of this bitter divide, with HarperNorth the ideal publisher to deliver this particularly Northern tale.”
De Peyer commented: “It’s always a privilege to combine two, maybe even three, of your great passions at work, and this book certainly does that for me. Jim and Phil are the best in the business and each brings a critical and complimentary eye to their subject. And what a story they have to tell. Soaked in jealousy, driven by a gathering sense of superiority, absolute and unforgiving: football is political, no doubt about it.”