MANCHESTER UNITED’S VETERAN centre-back Rio Ferdinand says Liverpool will not challenge for the Premier League title this season, ahead of their derby showdown tomorrow.
Liverpool took maximum points from their first two games, with 1-0 victories over Stoke City and Aston Villa, and will move five points clear of United if they beat them at Anfield.
However, despite their impressive early form, Ferdinand believes the best the five-time European champions can hope for this season is a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League.
“It is too early to say whether they will challenge the top four,” Ferdinand told United’s in-house television channel, MUTV.
“I don’t think they would have been in anyone’s reckoning before the season began. But they have started the season very well and are looking to put themselves in a good position after those first three games.
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“I still see it being between Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal going for that fourth spot.”
Ferdinand, 34, has sampled the fiery atmosphere of United’s games with Liverpool on 19 previous occasions and has twice scored late winning goals in the fixture at Old Trafford.
He also sat in the stands for United’s FA Cup loss at Anfield in February 2006; a game that saw visiting midfielder Alan Smith stretchered off with a badly broken leg and dislocated ankle.
Despite identifying City and Chelsea as the strongest title contenders, Ferdinand says Liverpool remain his side’s greatest rivals.
“You still get a different feeling when it is Liverpool,” he said. “I think it is the history between the clubs, the success Liverpool had and the success we have had in recent years. The rivalry is always going to be huge.
“But I can tell you, the tension isn’t as great on the pitch as it is in the stands. Just getting to the ground can be hairy at times.
“On the pitch, you sense the atmosphere leading up to the game and also during it. You know what it means to the people of Manchester to beat Liverpool, especially at Anfield.
“I have been lucky enough to be on the winning team a few times. To come away from Anfield with a win is a great feeling.”
New United manager David Moyes will get his first taste of the fixture on Sunday, but Ferdinand says the Scot’s Everton connections will not have any impact on the atmosphere.
“I don’t think it will make any difference having an ex-Everton man in charge,” Ferdinand said.
“His desire to beat Liverpool will be as strong as ever. He had that with Everton. It is a big game for them. I am sure he will quickly realise this game is as big in Manchester as it was for them.”
Rio is goin senile in his ould age bless.All the drugs must be takin there toll.See what he has to say tomorrow when Danny Sturridge runs rings around him
Rio is to old,vidic is gone to shite.Rooney wants out and they can’t sign any of their targets.Rvp gets injured and there in trouble.Goin backwards are united.Trying to get fellani? Backwards I tells ya
If RVP gets injured Rooney will play up front and we will continued to be called a one man team just like we were before RVP. Ferdinand has slowed but he reads the game well like carragher. Vidic would walk into any top European team.
I’m not a utd supporter but I would hardly call the runaway league winners from last year hopeing they might win it again this year as being deluded. People scathing Rio for stating a glaring fact is in fact ridiculous….
Agree James, some knee-jerk blinkered opinions lacking perspective from some of the above comments which portray a sense of hope more than probable reality.
Just because he says it , it’s not a personal attack by any means.
Any individual with the slightest amount of insight into football could come to this obvious conclusion !
Would be interesting to read the interview. A lot of these comments are twisted to suit an agenda in the media. I think most Liverpool fans would take 4th this year. I think it will be Chelsea Man Utd Man City Spurs Liverpool Arsenal. If Utd bring in some signings they may push Chelsea.
United signing fellaini is like when souness signed Julian dicks and Neil Ruddock for Liverpool 20 years ago. He is no player, united are on the slippery slope.
Gas 2 games in an pool fans are throwing bouquets at themselves. Rio saying it as it is. Fifth or sixth lads. Might be hard to accept but that about where you are going to finish. Come back after 38 games are played and tell us again how next year you’re going to win it.
Not saying we are going to win it William but based on all known facts we will in the top four and in all probability Liverpool won’t. As I say come back next may and tell us where it all went wrong and how you will win it next year.
If Liverpool continue the form they had in the second half of the season they will finish in the top 4. Aspas looks a great signing and Suarez will be back next month. Liverpool are certainly a stronger team this year and they have really hardened a defence that looked shaky at times last year. Kolo has been top class as has mignolet and by all accounts this llori guy is made of tough stuff too. I do feel that they may well challenge this year and that man city may drop out, I see Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Tottenham making the top 4 with a much tighter title race than before!
Man City will concede too many goals, I’d argue that Liverpool have the strongest defence in the league, Sakho is a beast and a bargain at 15 million! And one of the strongest attacks too with Aspas, Coutinho, Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez not including the possibility of Moses. I’m hard pushed to find a better attack bar maybe Man City. This coupled with the other big clubs having either uncertain summers in the transfer market or new managers or both! I’m not saying Liverpool will win the league but top 4 is the minimum expectation I have of this current bunch as I think it’s the best Liverpool team I’ve seen since circa 2008!
The liverpool fans who think theyll finish ahead of united are the ones on the gear…..put yer hands down yer pants and grab a hold of yourselfs lads,unless spurs and arsensl have absolute disasters of seasons 6th is your best hope and maybe a good cup run
As a Liverpool fan its hard to say but I agree with Rio. Coming 4th would be a huge achievement. The top 3 from last year should be the same but in a different order unless all of Spurs new signings settle fairly quickly. The way we finished last year and started this year, and the fact we’ll have no distractions of European football midweek gives me hope that we can have a good shot at 4th this year
I’m a Liverpool fan and I think 4th spot and to get back into the champions league is what we can hope to achieve this year. Doesn’t change the fact that Rio is a clown however or the fact that united have a decent back line,mediocre midfield with two good strikers. There’s not much between united,Chelsea and city. These games could make or break the title race as its cannon fodder below the top 6. The special one to rule the roost again I’m feeling unfortunately. He’s a winner wherever he goes which can’t be said of moyes or pellegrini.
Heaven forbid if a Liverpool player started to talk about united! Shut your quaver lips rio and stick to yer own problems. Ye have enough of them on the horizon
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I think Rio needs another drug test!
I thought he was the drug test…
think rio has taken over from ferguson as utd’s agent provocateur…
If Liverpool beat united tommorow I can’t see anyone catching them, 4 points is too big of a gap at this stage of the season.
Good ol Rio,
always was and always will be a langer
I really hope that’s sarcasm!
Rio is goin senile in his ould age bless.All the drugs must be takin there toll.See what he has to say tomorrow when Danny Sturridge runs rings around him
“Old” age not ould age… scouser go back too school
2 games in and Liverpool think they can finish in the top 4,I thought the comedy channel was on 112
Hilarious, there’s zero chance LFC will be anywhere near the top 4. If they scrape top 6 they will do well
Rio is to old,vidic is gone to shite.Rooney wants out and they can’t sign any of their targets.Rvp gets injured and there in trouble.Goin backwards are united.Trying to get fellani? Backwards I tells ya
If RVP gets injured Rooney will play up front and we will continued to be called a one man team just like we were before RVP. Ferdinand has slowed but he reads the game well like carragher. Vidic would walk into any top European team.
Oooook Bill, next you’ll be telling us Joe Allen and Jordan Henerson is a potentially Champions League winning axis. Cookoo, cookoo…,
Hahah right yeah,and I suppose united are goin to win the league yeah? And they call us deluded :-/
I’m not a utd supporter but I would hardly call the runaway league winners from last year hopeing they might win it again this year as being deluded. People scathing Rio for stating a glaring fact is in fact ridiculous….
Agree James, some knee-jerk blinkered opinions lacking perspective from some of the above comments which portray a sense of hope more than probable reality.
Just because he says it , it’s not a personal attack by any means.
Any individual with the slightest amount of insight into football could come to this obvious conclusion !
Would be interesting to read the interview. A lot of these comments are twisted to suit an agenda in the media. I think most Liverpool fans would take 4th this year. I think it will be Chelsea Man Utd Man City Spurs Liverpool Arsenal. If Utd bring in some signings they may push Chelsea.
Liverpool will well if they can manage a Europa cup spot.
United signing fellaini is like when souness signed Julian dicks and Neil Ruddock for Liverpool 20 years ago. He is no player, united are on the slippery slope.
Gas 2 games in an pool fans are throwing bouquets at themselves. Rio saying it as it is. Fifth or sixth lads. Might be hard to accept but that about where you are going to finish. Come back after 38 games are played and tell us again how next year you’re going to win it.
Rio must be on gear, again..
Not saying we are going to win it William but based on all known facts we will in the top four and in all probability Liverpool won’t. As I say come back next may and tell us where it all went wrong and how you will win it next year.
If Liverpool continue the form they had in the second half of the season they will finish in the top 4. Aspas looks a great signing and Suarez will be back next month. Liverpool are certainly a stronger team this year and they have really hardened a defence that looked shaky at times last year. Kolo has been top class as has mignolet and by all accounts this llori guy is made of tough stuff too. I do feel that they may well challenge this year and that man city may drop out, I see Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Tottenham making the top 4 with a much tighter title race than before!
Im a pool fan but Thats mad talk
Man City will concede too many goals, I’d argue that Liverpool have the strongest defence in the league, Sakho is a beast and a bargain at 15 million! And one of the strongest attacks too with Aspas, Coutinho, Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez not including the possibility of Moses. I’m hard pushed to find a better attack bar maybe Man City. This coupled with the other big clubs having either uncertain summers in the transfer market or new managers or both! I’m not saying Liverpool will win the league but top 4 is the minimum expectation I have of this current bunch as I think it’s the best Liverpool team I’ve seen since circa 2008!
There’s always “next season” lads
The liverpool fans who think theyll finish ahead of united are the ones on the gear…..put yer hands down yer pants and grab a hold of yourselfs lads,unless spurs and arsensl have absolute disasters of seasons 6th is your best hope and maybe a good cup run
As a Liverpool fan its hard to say but I agree with Rio. Coming 4th would be a huge achievement. The top 3 from last year should be the same but in a different order unless all of Spurs new signings settle fairly quickly. The way we finished last year and started this year, and the fact we’ll have no distractions of European football midweek gives me hope that we can have a good shot at 4th this year
I’m a Liverpool fan and I think 4th spot and to get back into the champions league is what we can hope to achieve this year. Doesn’t change the fact that Rio is a clown however or the fact that united have a decent back line,mediocre midfield with two good strikers. There’s not much between united,Chelsea and city. These games could make or break the title race as its cannon fodder below the top 6. The special one to rule the roost again I’m feeling unfortunately. He’s a winner wherever he goes which can’t be said of moyes or pellegrini.
Nor will Man U
Heaven forbid if a Liverpool player started to talk about united! Shut your quaver lips rio and stick to yer own problems. Ye have enough of them on the horizon