Gary Neville has insisted he respects Liverpool as a club, despite his long-standing reputation as one of their most vocal critics. The Manchester United captain, who has been fined for goading Liverpool fans and once said he 'can't stand anything to do with them,' now says his feelings are purely about rivalry, not disrespect.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash at Anfield, Neville acknowledged Liverpool's history and success. 'You have to respect a team that have been as successful as they have,' he said. 'But I'm a United fan and the rivalry is well documented. United fans want United to win and Liverpool to lose, and it's the same the other way.'
Neville dismissed the idea that a fifth successive defeat could end Liverpool's title hopes. 'We cannot knock them out of the title race,' he said. 'There are only nine games gone so it is far too early to talk about that. Any team in the top four is capable of winning six or seven games on the run.'
The rivalry, Neville argued, is the biggest in English football. 'Our rivalry with Liverpool is bigger than with Manchester City,' he said. 'They are the best games to play in, but also the hardest to lose.' He added that United would rather lose both league games to Liverpool and win the title than beat them and miss out.
Neville expects a hostile reception at Anfield, but said it is part of the game. 'I don't get a great reception at Anfield, I must say,' he said. 'No United players get a good reception there, but it's the same for their players at our ground.' He praised the atmosphere, saying the first task away from home is to silence the passionate crowd.
