Using the timely hook of Liverpool’s failed attempt to signed Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, the BBC published an interesting feature today on the perceived rivalry between the neighbouring cities.

It compares the city’s respective histories - Liverpool’s finance and shipping versus Manchester’s cotton mills - as well as deprivation, regeneration, architecture, sport and, of course, music. The pieces concludes that - outside the football world - a Manchester-Liverpool rivalry is little more than unfriendly banter.

The feature also includes a public poll on ‘which is your favourite city’. At the moment Manchester is winning - if that’s the word - with 54 per cent of the 13,000 votes. Just so you know, Manchester and Liverpool’s respective populations (ignoring surrounding areas) are 441,200 and 447,500.