The United/Liverpool “rivalry” is no more intense than that of any other two clubs, not from the same city. Scunthorpe v Doncaster Rovers for example.
Yes, United hated Liverpool in the 80’s, but EVERYONE hated Liverpool in the 80’s because they were the most successful team. Like United in the 90’s and early 2000’s, and City for the last 15 years. Twas ever thus.
The whole idea of a “intense, unrivalled, rivalry for the ages” was concocted by both clubs, in cahoots with the media (Sky in particular) during the 90’s as the televising and wall-to-wall media coverage of football exploded. They needed a rivalry to sell tee-shirts and tv subscriptions to gullible idiots.
If the dominant team in the early 90’s had been Bristol Rovers, we would today be discussing the “intense, unrivalled, rivalry between Liverpool and Bristol rovers.
A made up rivalry, concocted by businessmen to con gullible fools.
I’ve never, ever, fallen for it.