Britain’s top 10 football derbies from Dundee to the Den. Liverpool vs Everton ranks fourth but which fiery clash between rivals takes top spot?

‘Tis the season for lying. The festive menu traditionally features the meaty dishes of the derby.

The British game is liberally sprinkled with it. These derby matches have aggression, resentment and a lot of energy. But they are imbued with the primal element of defending your territory.

When choosing the best British derbies, I’ve decided to put geography above rivalry. Liverpool vs Manchester United and Rangers vs Aberdeen, for example, are matches that have grown in power and become intoxicating over the years. But for this list I opted for the local brew. And we get a taste of what makes this fixture indispensable.

10. Dundee v Dundee United

HOW MANY cities can say they produced two European Cup semi-finalists from the same street? Milan would build a pipeline, but that’s just a land share. The stretch of road connecting Dens Park to Tannadice also emphasizes the separation. These are two different clubs with different histories and cultures. Dundee, once the top dogs, were overtaken by the newcomers in the late 20th century. There is now something approaching equality. Of course, this matters little. These teams share a street, but divide a city.

Edited highlight: Dundee United won the title once – in 1983, on their rivals’ ground, with a worldly Ralph Milne.

9. Cardiff v Swansea

THIS was one of the first matches where fans were banned, so that gives an indication of the brutality of the match. Neither team has risen to the top

English football in terms of league titles – although Swansea once fluttered and flattered under the management of John Toshack – but this is a match that needs no external meaning. It is deeply rooted in hostility, although some argue that it was only in the 1960s that it became associated with hooliganism and that there was a softness in the rivalry before then.

Edited highlight: The last ever derby at Ninian Park in 2009. Kick-off was at 11am. Enough said.

8. Arsenal vs Tottenham

Slowly but decisively, these teams began swimming in different waters in the second half of the 20th century. Tottenham effectively became a punch line after their double-winning season in 1961. Arsenal – under Bertie Mee, George Graham and Arsene Wenger – became not only the kings of north London but also of England. Both have endured in the top division, providing regular derby fixtures of undisputed quality.

Edited highlight: Arsenal won the title at White Hart Lane in 1971, through a Ray Kennedy goal. This was also a double-win season.

7. Hearts vs Hibernian

This is a clash with a bit of history, with both clubs founded in the 1870s. The first match was played at the Meadows on Christmas Day in 1875 and they have continued ever since. There are strong cultural and even political differences between the parts of both bases. This adds spice, just like the setup at Easter Road and Tynecastle, where fans stand on top of the players. It is a match that has produced strange scores: 7-0 against Hibs in 1973, 6-2 against Hibs in 2000 and a 4-4 in 2003.

Edited highlight: After recording a number of Hibs’ achievements, Hearts’ 2012 Scottish Cup final victory (5-1) is still celebrated with the simple wave of a hand.

6. Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday

Another vintage car. It’s the Blades against the Owls in the Steel City Derby. They first met in 1890 and have clashed 132 times since then. Both sides have hit hard times since their early one-match lead in the third tier of English football. Despite this, the match has retained all its vital hostility.

Edited highlight: The 1993 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, where the Owls won 2-1 after extra time.

5. Millwall v West Ham

This is bitter, violent. It is known as the Dockers’ Derby, but could also plausibly be called the Hooligan Hooly. It’s been a while since they’ve played (2011, much to the delight of the police and football authorities), but both sets of supporters have clung to an industrial dose of antipathy. The rivalry has gained notoriety through its on-screen representation through The Firm and Green Street (which received additional time in the imaginative sequel, Green Street 2).

Edited lowlight: I’d love to pick a football moment, but it’s the Upton Park riot of 2009.

4. Everton vs Liverpool

This is regularly misplaced as the friendly derby where fans mingle in the stadium sharing sweets and signs of peace. However, there is increasingly an edge to it, both on and off the field. However, it is diminished by the disparity between the quality of teams in the decades since Everton last won a league in 1987. This title triumph was not followed by European qualification as English clubs were banned due to the behavior of Liverpool supporters at the club. Heysel Stadium in the European Cup final where 39 supporters died.

Edited highlight: The 1989 FA Cup final between the post-Hillsborough teams was impossibly gripping. A city united in grief.

3. Birmingham City v Aston Villa

The Second City derby has a long history (disputed since 1879) and has lost little of its luster. Both sides have waxed and waned over the years, with Villa being the most successful, especially in winning the European Cup. This is reflected in Villas

comparative dominance in the match, winning 57 to City’s 38. It remained a mess. Villa’s Jack Grealish will testify to this when he was struck by a pitch invader during a derby in 2019.

Edited highlight: Grealish went on to score the only goal in that match.

2. Newcastle v Sunderland

The Tyne-Wear derby has been heavily dominated by Newcastle over the years, but the blistering heat is warming both groups of supporters. This is perhaps clearly illustrated by the case of a Newcastle fan who was jailed for a year in 2013 for hitting a police horse after his team’s defeat to Sunderland. Not a city derby, but above all a local battle.

Edited highlight: A great match in 2006, when Newcastle came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 4-1. One of the Toon scorers was Michael Chopra, who went on to play for Sunderland. And Alloa.

1. Celtic v Rangers

An obvious choice, but unparalleled in passion and for some even in hatred. It dominates the landscape for months in advance. It consumes media attention with an insatiable appetite. It is also known to dominate the airwaves and newsprint long after the final whistle…

Edited highlight: Journalistic prudence demands that you choose a draw. The 4-4 at Ibrox in 1986 was simply extraordinary.