It's Historic With Liverpool

Paul Scholes believes there is a history to United’s rivalry with Liverpool ensuring that the match hasn’t lost its lustre, despite the fact that the Anfield club are far from being considered title contenders this season.

Liverpool come to Old Trafford on Sunday and, even with an ever-evolving hierarchy in the Barclays Premier League, this remains a highlight of the fixture calendar.

The challenge from Manchester City across town is undeniable as the two clubs fight for English football’s top honours. Liverpool, meanwhile, were involved in the title race in 2009 but more often in recent times United have battled Chelsea and, latterly, City for Premier League supremacy.

Speaking to Inside United magazine, on sale Wednesday 9 January, Scholes was asked where Liverpool currently feature among the Reds’ biggest rivalries. “I think it was the top one for quite some while,” he said.

“Liverpool probably haven’t done as well as they’d have liked over the last few years – and they’d probably admit that. But it’s definitely still right up there, it’ll always be right up there.”

Even considering City’s new-found prominence, it’s fair to say that the match with Liverpool carries a more storied past.

“Whether Manchester City have overtaken Liverpool now [as United’s biggest rivals], I don’t know… it’ll probably take years for City to create what Liverpool have done. But Liverpool historically are our biggest rivals, they’re always the biggest games and the best atmospheres. But I’m sure City will run them close.”

Sunday’s game represents the Reds’ first big test in the second half of the season and Scholes, who made his comeback from retirement a year ago today (8 January) against City, is delighted to be involved in such occasions.

“I just wanted to come back playing, and I’m glad I did," Scholes adds. "At the time there were a lot of injuries and I thought maybe I could help, so I tried to. The second half of last season I played quite often. Unfortunately we just fell short of winning the league; that was disappointing, but I’m glad I came back.”