Liverpool are favourites for Old Trafford clash, admits Moyes

David Moyes accepts that Liverpool will, for the first time in a generation, be favourites to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford when the two bitter rivals clash in the Premier League on Sunday.
Not since 1991 have Liverpool travelled down the M62 with such a commanding advantage as the 11-point lead they have over Moyes’s side. Victory would boost Liverpool’s title challenge and kill off United’s faint hopes of a Champions League place.
The title holders have won the last six meetings between the two clubs at Old Trafford the latest coming in the Capital One Cup in September — but Moyes admits that Liverpool’s scintillating form and his own  troubled first season at United mean that many people will expect Brendan Rodgers’s side to win.
 
‘They possibly do come here  favourites,’ said Moyes. ‘Their league position suggests they are ahead of us.’
Asked if that will be painful to hear for United fans who rejoiced over Sir Alex Ferguson’s success in ‘knocking Liverpool off their perch’ in the 1990s, Moyes replied: ‘Did you ask the Liverpool manager that when it was United over however many years?
‘These games are big no matter what. It’s a massively important game because of what it means to supporters, and we want to keep climbing the table and clawing the points back and see what position we can get ourselves into.’
Tomorrow’s game begins a critical 10-day period for United that could have a bearing on Moyes’s future at the club. On Wednesday night, they will attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit against Olympiacos in the Champions League, before going to West Ham and hosting Manchester City.
Moyes senses the opportunity to lift the gloom hanging over Old Trafford. ‘People could change their views,’ he said. ‘We are a work in progress but I hope we can show what we’re capable of.’
Moyes insisted that his focus is solely on salvaging something from United’s season, rather than halting Liverpool’s title charge. He said: ‘My biggest goal is not affecting their title challenge, my biggest goal is to get Manchester United winning the title.
‘That is my goal and will be every year I am in the job. Will it be to stop others winning the league? No, the important thing is us winning our games.’
United have been given a boost going into the game with top scorer Robin van Persie insisting that he is happy playing under Moyes and has no intention of leaving the club this summer. The Dutchman also indicated that he would be prepared to follow Wayne Rooney by signing a new contract at Old Trafford.
‘He has a couple of years to go on his contract and I’m sure that will be something the board look at,’ said Moyes. ‘Robin is happy here and I’m pleased about that.
‘I’ve always said I think we’ve got two outstanding forwards in Wayne and Robin. Both have capabilities of winning games off their own back.
The United boss believes that  Liverpool are reaping the rewards of showing faith in Rodgers.
‘Liverpool went through two or three managers in my time at  Everton and spent a lot on players,’ said Moyes. ‘Now, Brendan has got a bit of stability and he’s got his team playing well.
‘Liverpool might have benefited from being out of Europe. And their fixture list at the start of the season gave them a great opportunity to start well.
‘That has probably been the  catalyst for them.’