Manchester: Most visiting teams find playing at Anfield an intimidating experience. Not Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who ranks the trip to Liverpool as a highlight of his season.

"It encapsulates everything I think about British football," Ferguson said yesterday ahead of tomorrow's Premier League game. "The passion, the fervor of the fans, the ability of the football, the history of the competition between the clubs."

United is riding a six-year unbeaten streak in league matches at Anfield. Ferguson hopes his young title challengers will rise to the occasion again.

"You have to be a man to handle that atmosphere," he said. "If you are a lamb, you are dead".

Ferguson had been expecting to face a "wounded animal" after Liverpool's 3-1 defeat at Reading last weekend rekindled the debate about Benitez's tactics.

But the Spaniard masterminded a 4-0 demolition of Marseille on Tuesday to secure a spot in the Champions League knockout phase after a dismal start to the group stage.

"We are in good shape after winning in Marseille," Benitez said. "When you play well, score four goals on a difficult away ground, everyone is happy".

He needs that confidence to endure until tomorrow to claim a first league victory over United. "It is so close the line between the two teams. Our statistics in these matches might not be the best but in every game it has been really tight," Benitez said.

 

Source : PTI