ALEX FERGUSON admits he is surprised at how traditional rivals Liverpool have fallen off his radar.
The Manchester United boss was taken aback when he was told this week the Kop aces are 21 points behind the leaders going into today’s showdown at Old Trafford.
Fergie has always seen the Liverpool clash as the big one — even though Manchester City have become such a huge challenge over the last four years.
However, he believes the Merseyside club’s continued absence from the lucrative Champions League is a ‘disaster’ for them.
Asked about the yawning gap which has already opened up this season, Ferguson said: “I never even thought about that until it was mentioned on the television this week.
“I don’t really look at that. I look at that mob that’s behind us, the team that’s directly behind us, Their programme, who they’ve got next. I do that all the time.
“Of course it’s a surprise. Last year we were 30 points ahead of Arsenal and I’d never have believed that in a million years. If you look at the rivalry over the last 20-odd years it’s quite amazing.”
Liverpool are still aiming for a top-four finish despite a mixed start under new boss Brendan Rodgers.
They have been out of the Champions League for the past three years and Fergie believes any big club will suffer due to the loss of revenue.
He added: “I think that’s a good point. If we weren’t in the Champions League it would be a disaster and that probably applies to other big clubs.
“The market today is horrendous for everyone, even ourselves. Would you think 10 years ago I’d pay £22million for a player in the last year of his contract? But we are in that market.”
When Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, he admitted his goal was to knock Liverpool off their perch.
United have now won more league titles than their old rivals — 19 to 18.
And it looks likely that Liverpool’s long wait to finish top of the pile will pass 23 years.
Fergie said: “Could I have imagined that? Oh yes, I’ve been dreaming about it.
“They had fantastic teams, they had a good management structure, two great managers in a row. Bill Shankly created it and Bob Paisley carried it on.
“But history repeats itself. Cycles repeat themselves.
“That’s where we probably as a club are more aware than anyone. We know it happens and we have to be one step ahead.”
Rodgers now finds himself in a similar position to Ferguson all those years ago as he looks to bring the good times back to Anfield.
The United chief said: “I knew the challenge when I came here.
“One of my early Press conferences we said we can’t afford to go 25 years without winning the title. It was 26.
“Brendan will be the same. You’re aware of the history and so is everyone else, the supporters, the players. It’s not easy — it took me a few years.”
Ferguson believes the fixture will remain one of the great rivalries as it is about much more than just football.
He said: “Liverpool were always the one and nothing will change. It’s not about the position in the league.
“When the ship canal was built it took all the industry away from Liverpool up to Manchester. From that day the rivalry was big.
“It’s not just football. Of course, being the two most successful clubs has intensified it and that won’t change.
“If we were bottom of the league or in the second division it would be the same.”
m.blackburn@the-sun.co.uk
Football – The Sun
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