Ferguson fired up by beating reds

Alex Ferguson has said it will always be important to him for Manchester United to beat Liverpool, no matter where their north-west rivals stand in the Premier League. Top-flight leaders United overcame a late Liverpool rally to claim a 2-1 win on Sunday. Liverpool were the dominant force in English football when United manager Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, with the Scot declaring his aim was to knock them ‘off their perch’. United have won a record 19 English championships compared to Liverpool’s previous best of 18, so Ferguson can be said to have succeeded in his goal, especially as you have to go back to 1990, before the advent of the Premier League for the last of the Anfield club’s titles. ‘Winning these games are important, it doesn’t matter what position we are in the league,’ said Ferguson. ‘Manchester United and Liverpool games are a fantastic challenge between two of the most successful teams in the country and those three points are hopefully very important for us.’ Despite a few late scares United clung on to all three points. ‘Until the second goal we were magnificent, it was as good a performance we’ve had for a long time,’ said Ferguson. ‘But when they got the goal they were inspired.’