Football: Why are sport rivalries called derbies?

With only a few weeks of the Premier League season left, it's one of the closest title races for years.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are all battling for top spot.

This weekend sees leaders Arsenal in a big derby against rivals Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's title hopes were dealt a blow when they were beaten 2-0 by city rivals Everton, in Jurgen Klopp's last Merseyside derby as manager.

But what is a derby and why do people look forward to them so much? Keep reading to find out.

Who do you think will be crowned Premier League champions this season? Take our poll and let us know in the comments below!

The most competitive fixtures in sport are often 'derby' matches.

These are most commonly associated with football, however they can take place in any sport e.g. rugby league and union, cricket and basketball.

Unlike a sporting rivalry which can be based on league position or history between two teams, a derby is a match between two local clubs that are geographically close to each other - for example teams that are from the same city or from the same part of the country.

So for example, a match between Manchester United v Liverpool is seen as a rivalry, whereas Manchester United v Manchester City is a derby.

Derby games are really important especially for fans and players, as there's local pride and bragging rights at stake for the winning team!

No one knows for sure where the name comes from but there are a couple of different theories about the origins of the term.

One is that it comes from a horse race started by the Earl of Derby in 1780.

Others claim that it is named after the city of Derby, which was known for a game that everyone in the local area would take part in.

Rivalries between derby teams have often existed for many years.

Some derby matches even have their own names, here are a few examples of derbies from around the world:

Fans of Scottish football will be familiar with the Old Firm derby, the name given to any match that takes place between the two biggest names in Scottish football - Celtic and Rangers, teams which are both based in Glasgow.

Argentina's Superclásico is played between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. The name comes from the Spanish word 'clásico' which stands for 'derby', with the prefix 'super' used because these two teams are the most successful clubs in Argentine football.

The Tyne and Wear Derby is an example of a derby that takes place between two teams from cities that are located very close to each other in the north-east of England - Newcastle and Sunderland - rather than from the same city. The history between the two clubs goes back centuries - with the first-ever fixture between the two clubs taking place in 1888!

It was a delight for Everton fans as they beat their local rivals Liverpool at home for the first time in 14 years in the Merseyside derby.

Everton have had a difficult season whilst Liverpool have been aiming to be crowned Premier League champions.

But in a thriller, the underdogs managed to score twice, in a result that could save Everton's season and stop Liverpool getting to the top.

Now it's time for YOU to have your say! Who do you think will win the Premier League this season? Let us know below!

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