Liverpool must ready to battle
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Manchester United striker Alan Smith has promised Liverpool a battle ahead of Sunday's big clash.
Smith insists the Premiership leaders will not allow the Kop to get into their passing stride - a mistake United made when losing 1-0 to Arsenal last month.
Instead, Alex Ferguson's men will be in the faces of Rafa Benitez's boys at Old Trafford in a match that will not be for the faint-hearted.
Smith said: "Sunday is massive. We are top of the league and we have to make sure we stay there.
"But we know what happened against Arsenal, so we have to be focused and determined.
"Most times we play against Arsenal it is about getting stuck in. It is all hurly-burly but they played total football that day and everyone agrees they ran out worthy winners.
"We have to make sure against Liverpool on Sunday we will be up and at 'em and ready from the start because this will be more of a battle.
"We have to make it 100mph. Any Liverpool-Man United game is big but the form we are in we will be confident going into it."
Smith has an edge to him that loves a football war and the passion that goes with a United-Liverpool clash.
He believes it is even bigger than when Leeds crossed the Pennines to visit Old Trafford.
Smith, 26 a week tomorrow, said: "There is a rivalry but it is a good rivalry. People like rivalry, that is why the game is so big.
"That is why people get excited about coming to watch and why we get excited about playing. Any rivalry in football is always good.
"When I used to come to Old Trafford with Leeds it was more a rivalry from Leeds fans against United than the other way round. This is both sides. Both sets of players want to win."
Smith insists the Premiership leaders will not allow the Kop to get into their passing stride - a mistake United made when losing 1-0 to Arsenal last month.
Instead, Alex Ferguson's men will be in the faces of Rafa Benitez's boys at Old Trafford in a match that will not be for the faint-hearted.
Smith said: "Sunday is massive. We are top of the league and we have to make sure we stay there.
"But we know what happened against Arsenal, so we have to be focused and determined.
"Most times we play against Arsenal it is about getting stuck in. It is all hurly-burly but they played total football that day and everyone agrees they ran out worthy winners.
"We have to make sure against Liverpool on Sunday we will be up and at 'em and ready from the start because this will be more of a battle.
"We have to make it 100mph. Any Liverpool-Man United game is big but the form we are in we will be confident going into it."
Smith has an edge to him that loves a football war and the passion that goes with a United-Liverpool clash.
He believes it is even bigger than when Leeds crossed the Pennines to visit Old Trafford.
Smith, 26 a week tomorrow, said: "There is a rivalry but it is a good rivalry. People like rivalry, that is why the game is so big.
"That is why people get excited about coming to watch and why we get excited about playing. Any rivalry in football is always good.
"When I used to come to Old Trafford with Leeds it was more a rivalry from Leeds fans against United than the other way round. This is both sides. Both sets of players want to win."
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