Gary Neville nearly lost his cool after asking ChatGPT to pick England’s biggest football club in light of Liverpool’s latest title triumph. Having secured the Premier League on Sunday, the Reds have now matched Manchester United’s total of 20 league titles, reigniting a heated debate about who truly reigns supreme.
Boasting six Champions League trophies – twice as many as United – some may argue that Liverpool have the edge. However, Neville isn’t having any of it. On the most recent It’s Called Soccer! podcast, the ex-United right-back turned to artificial intelligence for a verdict.
With a bit of prompting, ChatGPT ultimately chose United over Liverpool, although it stressed that the two clubs remain “neck and neck” in stature.
Discussing the debate, Neville conceded that Liverpool were now England’s most successful club, yet clung to his belief that United were bigger, and “always” would be.
“I will always maintain [that] Manchester United are the biggest football club in this country, and that will never change,” the 50-year-old said. “It’s not even a debate.
“However, the most successful club at this moment in time… Is Liverpool. They’ve won 20 titles and they’ve won more European Cups, and they’re the two trophies we all measures ourselves by.
“What I haven’t enjoyed is where people have [translated] that to Liverpool being the biggest club. They’re not the biggest club. They’re not.”
Irked, Neville turned to his phone for confirmation. Initially met with an ambiguous response, his frustration boiled over. “No, I don’t want a breakdown, you muppet,” he snapped.
Eventually, he got what he wanted. “Oh, there we go. I’ve pushed it, and look what happens,” he announced, flashing his phone screen at the camera.
ChatGPT’s answer read: “If we have to name one club as the biggest in England overall, the best all-round answer is Manchester United.”
Liverpool fans are unlikely to agree. While the Merseyside club might lag behind in commercial reach, their on-pitch accomplishments have been far more impressive in recent years.
Domestically the two clubs are more or less on an even keel, but Liverpool’s European record is unmatched. Additionally, they’ve pulled away from United over the last decade – both in terms of substance and style – establishing themselves as one of Europe’s most consistently elite clubs.
That said, United’s legacy is formidable. Their 13 Premier League titles is unmatched in the modern era, and remains a towering benchman for Liverpool – who have just two – and others.
However, the Reds are now on the cusp of history. One more title win would move them past United as England’s most successful top-flight club, restoring the “perch” that Sir Alex Ferguson once famously claimed for Manchester.
For now though, the debate rumbles on.
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