"My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f****** perch. And you can print that."
The above was famously quoted by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2002, in the midst of a difficult campaign as he approached his 400th Premier League match in charge of the Red Devils.
Finishing 10 points behind Arsenal in the Premiership the season before, and finding themselves six points off the pace in September this time around, raised some questions about the predicament Manchester United were in (chiefly from one Alan Hansen, of "you never win anything with kids" fame).
Ferguson was bullish in stating that his most strenuous, and indeed greatest achievement in English football, was displacing Liverpool as the best team in English football.
Today, retired as the most revered manager in English football (and indeed, around the world), Ferguson can only watch as Brendan Rogers attempts to begin knocking Manchester United "off their f****** perch" when Liverpool visit Old Trafford today.
This season, it seems the roles have been reversed – Liverpool are flying high, playing attacking football that is pleasing on the eye for neutrals everywhere (at times with reckless abandon at the back, it must be said) and have amongst them one Luis Suarez, who is quite simply the most complete forward in football today.
The Uruguayan is adept whether he is either side of the central striker, right behind the target man or as the target man himself.
Suarez has elevated his team mates' performance around him with his team play, off-the-ball movement and defence-splitting passes. Oh, and he scores goals too.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are adrift at sea – rocking back and forth with the waves.
David Moyes stubbornly holds unto his Evertonian managing philosophy by emphasising a compact, disciplined and high-energy style of play... when without possession.
With the ball, Moyes' men seem lost and confused. The nigh-infinite crossing, overcrowding of attacking spaces (as one Robin Van Persie can attest to) and instability in defence, sees Manchester United in sixth position, nine points off a UEFA Champions League spot.
If former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was the inventor of the rotation policy, Moyes is taking it to another level this season – 42 games in charge and not once has he named an unchanged squad.
United's Champions League campaign this season had been relatively smooth in the group stage - thumping victories against Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen being the major highlight.
However, this Wednesday, they host Olympiakos of Greece at home, looking to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit in the hope of advancing to the quarter-finals.
Imagining Manchester United not being in Europe, let alone the Champions League, will be new to many fans - the last time Manchester United failed to qualify for continental competition was in the 1989-1990 season, nearly 25 years ago.
Liverpool fans must be beside themselves with delight knowing that a victory at Old Trafford could greatly affect United's chances for European football next season.
This is where David Moyes needs to inspire.
The players should know the importance of this fixture regardless - it is Manchester United vs Liverpool after all, the biggest rivalry in English football over the past 30 years outside of the traditional local derbies.
Manchester United performed with venom and heart as they beat Arsenal at Old Trafford earlier this season, and more of the same will be needed if they are to stifle Liverpool's attacking unit. – March 16, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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