Up For The FA Cup

As record FA Cup holders, United haven't had the best of luck in the competition in recent years. Sir Alex Ferguson's 11-time winners have not lifted the trophy in seven years, and have lost finals in 2005 and 2007 - but the Reds boss is determined that this season that will change.

United stumbled at the first hurdle last season when Leeds visit Old Trafford and Jermaine Beckford snatched a 1-0 victory for the then League One outfit. Up against another old rival in this year's third round, Sir Alex does not want to suffer the same fate against Liverpool.

"It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs," the boss told Inside United magazine. "In hindsight I could have picked a stronger team. I won't be making that mistake this time."

United's last FA Cup triumph came in 2004, when the Reds lifted the trophy at the Millennium Stadium with a 3-0 win over Millwall. The following year United were back in Cardiff against more illustrious opponents, Arsenal. But despite bombarding the Gunners for 90 minutes of normal time and 30 minutes of extra time, Arsene Wenger's side cruelly snatched victory on penalties.

Two years later, having overcome Premier League opposition in every round, the Reds met Jose Mourinho's Chelsea for the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley. The game looked set for a penalty shoot-out after a dour game on a poor pitch, but Didier Drogba pounced in extra-time with a winner after 116 minutes. Those results have only served to have heightened United's hunger to win the trophy this time around.

"It's an important trophy so there is a strong desire to get our hands on it," added Sir Alex. "We haven't won it since 2004, or been to Wembley in the final since we lost to Chelsea in 2007. So we definitely want to get back there. And we want to win it."