Big match has no equal

Sir Alex Ferguson cannot wait for Sunday's clash with Liverpool, insisting fixtures between the pair are unrivalled in English football.

Liverpool's improvement this season looks set to make them genuine contenders for the Barclays Premier League title, adding even more of an edge to an invariably spicy fixture.

"This is a game separate from everything, it has different tendencies to any other game," said Sir Alex.

"I think we look upon each other as our main rivals in English football.

"You have the geography, the history of the clubs, the ability of the players, the competition, the passion and fervour of the fans. Liverpool's support is a big component of that club, particularly against United. You have to be a man to handle that atmosphere. If you are a lamb, you are dead."

Despite slipping to a shock defeat at Reading last weekend, Liverpool's midweek win over Marseille takes them into Sunday's fixture on a high, although Sir Alex hinted that he would not have relished the fixture if the Merseysiders had crashed out of Europe.

"There are two different ways of looking at it," he said. "You could have Liverpool as a wounded animal going into the game, or as they are. Sometimes a wounded animal is more dangerous."

United go into the match six points ahead of their local rivals, but having played a game more. Sir Alex admits Liverpool are well in the title picture alongside Arsenal and Chelsea, who also lock horns on Sunday.

"Liverpool have got a game in hand, haven't they," he said. "Three points is nothing in this league, it's so competitive now. Arsenal were six points ahead of us two weeks ago, now it's one.

"With Chelsea going to Arsenal as well, if it was March or April then it would without doubt be a significant weekend, but it's halfway through the season.

"Two draws will be the favourite scorelines, they're two difficult games to call. Certainly I'm looking at Arsenal and Chelsea and hoping it's a draw. Whenever your rivals play each other, you hope they'll drop points."