Culture Head to Head
Deltabase Culture Intelligence compares two iconic Premier League giants: Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC. Beyond the pitch, how do these historic clubs stack up in terms of leadership, career development, and employee experience?
Industries
Leisure
Date:
May 2025
Timeframe:
2023 -2024
Expert:
Leroy Hall
Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC, two of the most storied clubs in English football, have built legacies defined by domestic triumphs and European glory, setting standards for excellence across generations. While Manchester United dominated much of the Premier League era and Liverpool has recently reasserted its strength, both clubs continue to pursue success on the pitch while cultivating distinct internal cultures. This comparison examines the cultural DNA of each club, revealing the values, strengths, and challenges that shape their performance both on and off the field.
Culture Insights
Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC each present distinct cultural strengths and weaknesses that can be seen on the pitch and across the boardroom. Liverpool stands out for its exceptional performance in progressive culture (+100.0%) and collaboration (+81.82%), suggesting a dynamic, forward-looking environment where innovation and teamwork thrive. Manchester United, while also showing strong collaborative culture (+55.55%), trails Liverpool in fostering a truly modern, progressive mindset.
In terms of supportive environments, Liverpool scores positively (+4.8%), highlighting a culture that values encouragement and employee wellbeing. Manchester United, by contrast, scores negatively (-26.7%), pointing to challenges in building a consistently nurturing workplace culture.
Both clubs face challenges around career progression, with Liverpool at -25% and Manchester United at a much lower -53.8%. This indicates a widespread perception—especially acute at Manchester United—of limited opportunities for growth and internal advancement. Strengthening clear development pathways could significantly boost employee engagement and retention across both organisations.
A significant differentiator emerges in the area of purpose and leadership alignment. Liverpool scores -26.9%, outperforming Manchester United’s -40.8%, suggesting Liverpool employees feel somewhat more connected to the club’s mission and leadership vision. For Manchester United, focusing on clarifying strategic direction and enhancing leadership effectiveness could help rebuild internal trust and motivation.
Manchester United does show pockets of strength in agility and learning & development (+23.64%), suggesting an organisational willingness to adapt and invest in skills-building, even amid broader cultural challenges. Continued focus in these areas could provide a foundation for future cultural improvement.
By enhancing career progression opportunities and reinforcing purpose-driven leadership—while building on their respective cultural strengths—Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC can both strengthen their appeal as employers competing in the high-performance world of elite sport.
Purpose
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Both clubs face challenges around purpose and leadership, but Liverpool FC edges ahead, with a significantly better (though still negative) rating compared to Manchester United.
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A stronger sense of alignment to purpose and more effective leadership is evident at Liverpool. On and off the field, Manchester United are showing signs of a declining culture.
Career Progression
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Liverpool - Liverpool’s relatively higher rating indicates employees feel clearer pathways exist for growth and promotion compared to their rivals.
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Man Utd - Liverpool also outperforms Manchester United when it comes to career progression opportunities but both scores are negative!
Empowered
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Liverpool - A notably different story unfolds in the supportive environment category. Liverpool achieves a positive score, suggesting a genuinely supportive culture among leadership.
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Manchester Utd - In contrast, Manchester United’s negative score suggests challenges in fostering a nurturing and empowering atmosphere.
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Read the full report and see how Liverpool and Manchester United compare across our Culture Framework.
