(Image from here)The Guardian tell a story about Gary Neville which was new to me:“I’ve never said I don’t respect Liverpool. You have to respect a team that has been as successful as they have and has the history and tradition they have.
“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.
“I don’t get a great reception at Anfield I must say – I’m not their favourite son.
“No United players get a good reception at Anfield, but it’s the same for their players at our ground and it is to be expected.
“It’s always been a really great game to play in. Obviously we never want to lose, but it’s the same for both teams.
“Liverpool has been the biggest game of the season for a long time, going back 30 years or more, and our rivalry with Liverpool is bigger than our rivalry with Manchester City.
“There are a variety of reasons why this fixture is so important.
“The cities are very close yet have different cultures, both clubs have enjoyed great periods at different times in the past 40 years and now we’re level on the number of championships.
“The atmosphere in Liverpool-United games is great – but only if you’re winning!”
And he added: “They are the best games to play football in – but also the hardest games to lose.”
the man who once declared to a United fanzine: "I can't stand Liverpool, I can't stand Liverpool people, I can't stand anything to do with them."Never one to hold back with his opinions, Neville was so flagrantly anti-Liverpool that his father, Neville Neville, interrupted one of his rants a few years ago to switch off an interviewer's tape-recorder, apparently fearful that his son was talking himself into trouble. Neville Jr is said to have responded: "But I do hate them, Dad."
Neville claimed he would not swap Rooney for any other player in the world, identifying the 23-year-old as arguably United's most important player."I wouldn't swap him for anybody," said Neville. "Wayne has such a big influence on our team.
"Sometimes the world's best player accolades go to the people who are the most eye-catching and skilful.
"Wayne obviously has great skill but he also has incredible team qualities. His work-rate, defending and goal-scoring ability all stand out. He's simply a fantastic all-round player.
"In some ways you see a bit of Roy Keane's character in Wayne and the way he plays. He's infectious and sets the tone.
"Obviously we have a few players who can do that, but Wayne has a fantastic desire that transmits to the rest of the team.
"There are always areas in which players can improve. Even players who are over 35 will say they can improve, so Wayne is someone who will get better with experience."
And some comments about his season so far:“Sunday is a huge game. I don’t know about knocking them out of the title race – we just want to do well for ourselves.
“That means beating them and who knows where that puts them? I don’t really care.
“We want to beat Liverpool – it is as simple as that.
“That’s want we want to do and it doesn’t matter how well or badly they are doing.
“I have had some great days beating them at both Anfield and Old Trafford and I would love to reproduce that.”
“It feels like my season hasn’t really got started yet.“I pulled my thigh the day before the season began then I came back, was in and out of the team, and it feels now like I just need a great run of games.
“I need 10 continuous games under my belt and to go from there.
“I don’t want to talk about the criticism I’ve had.
“You get criticised in football and you get praised – I just don’t comment on it either way.”
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