Stu Montagu asking the questions...
They are our biggest rivals, our fiercest enemies and the game that we will always look out for on the fixture list as the big one due to its history.
But wouldn't it be interesting to find out what they really think of us when all the rhetoric and supposed hatred is stripped away? Well now you can.
We spoke to Andy Mitten, editor of the largest United fanzine, United We Stand, in the aftermath of the recent clash at Anfield to ask him his opinion on topics ranging from Benitez and Dudek to Munich and Hillsborough. Here are the results.
So, What are your realistic expectations and ambitions for the rest of the season?
To see Manchester United push Chelsea as hard as possible for the league. And hope that fortune favours us in Europe.
Who were the Liverpool players that you thought would trouble you most on Saturday, and who did you think actually did play well?
Morientes, although he was never truly match fit. You miss Xabi Alonso; he was by far your best player at Old Trafford in September. Dudek was outstanding against Manchester United. Again.
Indeed, and which players were the weak links on the day?
Pellegrino is a wily growler of a man, but he’s barely played for Valencia this season and it showed. Luis Garcia was profligate and Steven Gerrard, a player I rate highly, was shackled by Roy Keane.
Who did you think were vital to making you tick; I personally don't think I've seen Scholes play as well as that for a while?
After an indifferent start to the season, Scholes is playing very well. Ditto Giggs, although he's been out for the past few weeks. I thought our best player was that mad Argentine bean man who communicates by whistling and wears blacked out Mike Tyson style boots. United defended soundly and we've not conceded a goal in seven games now. I'm sure you wanted to know that!
Were there any Utd players you were particularly disappointed with?
Bellion touched the ball less than Carroll. Although he was only on the pitch for about seven seconds.
Should have started for me, any complaints with the Brown sending off, looked pretty stonewall to me?
No. United defended well, but both Brown bookings were warranted.
If the transfer genie gave you full access to any Liverpool players which ones would you take, for your first eleven and as back up?
Gerrard and Alonso. I think that Gerrard would be an acceptable replacement for Roy Keane, but given that United and Liverpool haven't traded since we sold you Phil Chisnall forty years ago, a transfer would seem unlikely. Then again, had you told me that Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith would be United players a year ago I would have told you that there was more chance of your fourth grace being built.
Who are the fans that you have most disliked over the past year and why?
There are tools in every fan base. And decent people too. I know lads who go home and away with Liverpool who I've got a lot of time for. And I know United fans who I've probably got little in common with. The new breed of tourist Chelsea fans must piss off the hard core who constituted their 21,000 average gates a decade ago, but most of the fans who come to Old Trafford are unoriginal in their wit or wisdom. I do like it when you get mad fans coming over in the European Cup though. The Zagreb fans were mental a few years ago and the Turks and Greeks always put a good show on.
Any supporters in particular impress you with their wit, enthusiasm and interesting chants?
Man city – they're professionals. They turn up in such huge numbers wherever they play that they're probably bigger than United if you think about it properly. And the thing with City fans is that every one of them was born within the chimes of the town hall clock. When Trevor Brooking or Johan Cruyff refers to a football team called 'Manchester', I'm sure they mean city and their brilliant fans.
Funny you should say that, so are the Everton fans. The atmosphere at Anfield is quite frankly pathetic at times and is getting worse every year, is this the case at Old Trafford or not?
It isn't always great at Old Trafford, but it has improved from a desperately poor nadir about four years ago. The club have helped lump some of the more vocal fans together and this has improved the noise level. It's contrived, but it has worked, and smart flags adorn the front of the Stretford End. One issue at the moment is the choice of songs aired. Given that we have a fine repertoire of songs to choose from, some wonder why teams like Manchester city and Leeds United - teams who barely threaten United – receive such prominence.
What are your favourite chants when you come to Anfield, and do you feel it is necessary to keep the "famous munich song" chant alive?
I love the edge that comes with United-Liverpool games and love going to Anfield as an away fan. Without being too petulant, why did Liverpool fans feel it necessary to keep the Munich chants alive for so long?
Fair enough. But "Build a bonfire" followed by "Rooney, Rooney", Please explain the logic, it would be like us slating the Basque then singing Alonso's name?
It's a twisted logic and both Rooney and Alan Smith have sought reassurance that the fans of the team they play for don't despise them. We don't.
Do you hate Kenyon more or less now he is at Chelsea?
More. I found him alright at Old Trafford. He was always honest and gave us interviews whenever we asked for United We Stand, but he was at fault in United's failure to sign Ronaldinho. Worse was the fact that he's played up his fan credentials…before moving to a rival club of mercenaries. If he was a United fan then your tram line is getting built on time.
Any surprise hate-figures that we might not know about?
There's this Yank bloke who wears ill-fitting kecks and wouldn't get a shag in the Ritz. Or the 051. Is that still open? And if so, did they change it to the 0151?
We have the might of Jamie Carragher, do you have a club legend that all the fans love for their attitude and commitment?
For me, Roy Keane. He's been a fantastic United player for twelve years and I like him a lot as a person. I admire his brutal honesty, drive and commitment. And he's a lot brighter than some might think.
Who, at Utd, are the worst examples of parasites that need shifting off the books?
How long have we got? Kleberson has been, no, make that is, wank. Djemba Djemba has done little to suggest he's got a future at the club, although he played alright at Chelsea last week. Liam Miller hasn't had the best start in a red shirt and Bellion, despite scoring a few, has yet to be compared with Cantona. So, most of the recent signings then.
Who, if any, out of your youngsters are going to make the grade as regular starters?
Fletcher is so highly rated by the coaching staff that we're sometimes led to believe that we've got a cross between Zidane and Ronaldinho in the making. I like him, but we'll need more consistency from him before we love him.
Would you prefer Ferguson was more honest and less paranoid in his dealings with the media and do you get tired of all the "mind games" bollocks when he is just geeing up his side?
Alex is Alex. And most United fans wouldn't change him. He's got his faults, but 90% of the time he's got the best interests of Manchester United football club at heart. That, and he's lavished us with unimaginable success.
What is your opinion of the appointment of Benitez and your assessment of his ability?
Great coach at Valencia. Virtually unheard of when he arrived at the Mestalla, but he crafted a team of champions, a team who went to places like the Camp Nou and expected to win. And they did. He's got a large forehead, a sound eye for talent and for getting the best out of previously mediocre players. Mista, previously a no-mark, was Valencia's best player last season. I was at the Valencia-Levante derby a few weeks ago and spoke to several players, fans and journalists. They love him…which makes Claudio Ranieri's life all the more intolerable. That said; I've just got an amusing feeling that you've got another Houllier on your hands.
My opinion of the Hillsborough disaster is that any number of clubs from northern cities would have come in for similar treatment at the hands of the media due to the climate of the time in Thatcher's Britain, although I accept Liverpool had a special place in her heart. I know for a fact that if it would have been Utd playing that day I personally would still never buy the S*n newspaper. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on why more fans from other clubs don't back the boycott?
I can only speak for myself, but I respect Mickeys who continue to boycott The Sun. And I respect the fact that the resolve hasn't been diluted fifteen years later. The Sun's 'apology' last year was vacuous. As for Rooney's decision to sell his 'My love for Coleen' story to the News of the World. Who advised him to do that? Ken Dodd's accountant?
Think it was that Paul Stretford wanker, angling to get him away. How do you feel about being one of the clubs, along with ourselves, that are living by the "I'm alright so fuck the smaller clubs" motto?
United have been very successful on and off the field in the past 15 years. You won't find many United fans apologising for that, and given a choice you would have gladly swapped positions with us, but there's a readiness and willing amongst many fans to continually question the motives of the club. There's a politically motivated element of United fans who do care about the overall game, do challenge the parasitic likes of Malcolm Glazer and make me very proud to support the club I do.
The media hailing Ferdinand's comeback as if he were the second coming in our previous meeting was odd to say the least considering the offence, discuss?
Ferdinand is possibly the best defender in Britain, but the media misread how a lot of United fans actually felt about him. In our eyes, he was culpable and let down his peers, even if the sentence was overly harsh. He's steadied our season though.
Mourinho…Arrogant tosser or confident legend?
Brilliant manager who has such supreme confidence in his ability that he's perceived as arrogant. A lot of it is a front and British people hate him because they can't see beyond his self-assured arrogance, but just look at his history and try to tell me he's not the best coach in Europe at the moment.
Who is going to win what this season?
Chelsea will probably win the league, fifty years since they last won it. Manchester United might, but a poor league start will make it difficult. We might even surprise a few in Europe too. Liverpool won't win anything, but that 'Kettering Koppites' flag deserves some kind of award for brightening up my life.
And finally, as you are apparently in the market for a keeper, you don't fancy taking our hands do you?
We know he's one of us, but he doesn't need to join us to prove it. He's more effective where he is.
Andy Mitten and UWS can be found online at, surprisingly enough,
www.uwsonline.com
