Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits the Anfield crowd is a factor when playing at Liverpool. United have struggled in recent times against their great rivals.

Ferguson conceded in Inside United: "I think it's related to the rivalry between the clubs. It's an important contest that's been going on for a long time. But even when Liverpool were in their pomp - in the 1980s - United would regularly beat them there.

"If you look at what was happening then, Liverpool were winning league titles but United were winning the matches between us and them. It's been the other way around in the last few years. Anfield's a tough place to go - the supporters make a fantastic noise and you really have to work hard to handle that and cope with it.

"My thinking, though, is that I'd rather be winning the league come May than worry too much about dropping three points at Anfield.

"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm okay with losing the game. Far from it - it's never nice to be beaten by Liverpool. But at the end of the day, I'd prefer to win the Premier League."