There has never been any love lost between the north west giants, a fact Ferguson recognised as soon as he came down from Aberdeen and vowed to knock the Merseyside outfit off their perch as kings of England.

That aim has long since been achieved but there are a few other factors likely to give tomorrow's showdown more spice than usual.

United are chasing an 18th league title to match Liverpool's long-standing record for a start. Rafael Benitez's men are desperate to stop them and realise that, seven points adrift having played a game more, nothing but a win will do.

Then there are the controversial comments Wayne Rooney made to MUTV in midweek, outlining his hatred of the Anfield outfit, which have only served to stoke the fires even more.

"Liverpool have always been our main rival," said Ferguson.

"It does not matter what the position in the league, as far as I am concerned, it has always been the derby game.

"It will always be that way because of the geography and history of the two cities.

"We are the two most successful football clubs in England. When they get together you expect sparks to fly."

Sparks are not the only thing that have flown at Rooney during these stormy affairs. Mobile phones have been hauled at the England striker by more extreme Liverpool supporters, to go with bucketloads of abuse he can expect from the visiting fans tomorrow.

Little wonder he feels the way he does, although, as Gary Neville has learned after expressing similar sentiments over a decade ago, airing private views in public can cause a career full of grief from one half on Merseyside.

"Hate is an easy word to say, easier than dislike. Maybe it is not the right word," said Ferguson.

"But Wayne has had plenty of stick from Liverpool fans over the years, so it is understandable.

"He supported Everton as a kid and the rivalry between them and Liverpool is pretty ferocious now. Since then he has come to Manchester United and he wants to win.

"It is nothing out of the ordinary really."

There is something symbolic about an 18th title for United. As they were only on seven when Liverpool reached that figure, just under four years after Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson, it is not something the Scot ever had as a long-term plan.

Now the Red Devils are nearly there, Ferguson is looking much further ahead, certain the day will eventually dawn when his club are not just level, but ahead.

"This team will win more league championships," he said.

"Whatever happens, this year is only part of the future which looks very good for our young players.

"There is evidence that we have a group that can stay together for quite a few years."

Ferguson is not interested in discussing 'Rafa's Rant' the moment that will be seized on by Benitez's critics when the championship pendulum began to swing away from Anfield.

The United camp feel it came a week before, when they turned up for a Boxing Day date with Stoke, still exhausted and jet-lagged from their trip to Japan for the Club World Cup and, thanks to a late Carlos Tevez goal, began a run of victories they could extend to 12 tomorrow.

"I should just concentrate on us," Ferguson said with an air of supreme confidence.

"We have 10 games left so we must to try and get a result and then look at the next nine. You do start to count down and eventually you run out of games.

"That is not psychology. It is about where you are in the league."

Ferguson will make changes after the defeat of Inter Milan, with Tevez, Park Ji-sung and Anderson among those who could return.

And while he might urge a sense of calmness among his troops, he has no intention of reining them in as they continue to chase a quintuple Ferguson insists is the impossible dream.

"I won't be holding anyone back," he said.

"It is Manchester United against Liverpool. It is not a time to hold back.

"It is a time to go forward, enjoy it and keep expressing yourself.

"But no-one is talking about the quintuple. I don't think it can be done."