Abby Brammell

By Ian Ladyman

Fight for the right: Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez will lock horns again on Sunday


It is the fixture Sir Alex Ferguson still looks forward to more than any other. Manchester United versus Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Last season Rafael Benitez’s side somehow left Manchester with a 4-1 win and they beat their great rivals at Anfield this season, too.

But as Ferguson homes in on a 19th title that would eclipse Liverpool’s record of 18, the United manager now occupies the higher ground. On Friday he offered his thoughts on Sunday’s clash...

On Liverpool’s struggles:

It’s different from maybe other times we’ve played Liverpool but still very important.

I don’t know what they are mired in. I think everyone expected Liverpool to be better but they are not and the challenge for them, along with others, is to get that fourth spot, which is a league of its own now.
On sympathy for Benitez:

The word sympathy is a bit strong. I mean, you can feel for any manager who does not do well. Phil Brown was sacked during the week.

On Steven Gerrard escaping FA punishment for a clash with Michael Brown against Portsmouth:

I didn’t expect them to charge Gerrard simply because it’s a dysfunctional unit, the FA. I don’t think they know what they are doing. There is no consistency for a start.

I never expect any. So I’m not too bothered about it to be honest with you, they’ll do what they want down there. It’s crazy at times.

On a possible solution:

For years the League Managers’ Association have been trying to get involved. They want an input. There are about 20 redundant managers around who have had a good experience of the game. They could get involved. It costs the FA a fortune and what results are we getting? I wonder if it’s worth exploring the managers who don’t have a job at the moment taking over that department. So we could have maybe a body of four sitting every Sunday assessing the TV issues of the weekend.

On Liverpool getting ‘the breaks’ with disciplinary issues this year:

Yes, we know that. They do all right. They are lucky like that. Maybe one day we will get lucky.

On Nemanja Vidic being sent off in his past three games against Liverpool:

The two at Anfield were definitely influenced by the crowd and the Liverpool players. I have looked at them again. I don’t think it will affect him this time.

With Rio Ferdinand
and Vidic coming back, you can see a much greater presence at the back now.


Unforgettable: Fernando Torres celebrates after stunning Old Trafford into silence last season


On last season’s 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford:
Well it was a one-off, it won’t happen again, I can assure you. Absolutely no chance.

It was an abnormal blip. We were well over it the next week and went on to win the League.

On suggestions Liverpool over-achieved in coming second last season:

Yes, I think that. I think they did very well. When they got that run going they showed form and consistency. That helps. But I thought it was an exceptional season.

I thought it would be difficult to achieve that again. That was just my opinion.
On Xabi Alonso’s departure from Anfield being decisive:

I am not sure about that. I am not sure. I think he is a good player, obviously.
On Benitez’s suggestion that Fernando Torres’ injury problems have been key:

That’s possible. I think he is right there. I think he is a top player and when you don’t have top players you don’t get top results. But we had a time this season when all our defenders were injured. We had midfielders playing in defence. What do you expect?

You don’t expect your best results when you haven’t got your best players. That applies to every team, not just Liverpool.

On the form of United winger Nani:

He has always been a talented boy, with great pace and great feet and great endurance and terrific training. He has all the parts and what maturity does is to bring it all together. We are definitely seeing a great improvement in his form in recent weeks. He is starting to mature.

On the Owen Hargreaves for England debate:

I think WE deserve some service, right? He needs to get his service in. I think we deserve some service, Christ! Talking about World Cups - there is nothing wrong with talking about it. But he should be concentrating on United, exactly right. And he will do that.


source: dailymail