After last season saw Liverpool mount their first serious challenge for the Premier League title this decade, some are backing them to go a step further in the 2009-10 edition.
Sir Alex Ferguson is not one of those people.
The Manchester United boss held off Rafael Benitez's Reds down the stretch last term to claim a third straight PL crown, and he doubts that the Merseysiders will pose any more of a threat this time around.
"It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them," Ferguson told The Sun.
"Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift."
Some observers have begun leaning towards the Scot's way of thinking now that 'Pool have confirmed that Xabi Alonso, arguably their star man last season, is on his way to Real Madrid.
However, Ferguson is not convinced that the Spanish midfielder's departure will have much of an effect either way, as he is of the opinion that the Scousers' greatest weapons lie further afield.
"The thrust of their team is all about [Steven] Gerrard and [Fernando] Torres," he added.
Still, the question remains: who will be Man United's most dangerous rivals in 2009-10? Ferguson believes the answer is to be found in west London.
"It has to be Chelsea as the main threat. [Carlo] Ancelotti will change how they play," he said.
"They will play the Milan way. It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three, because they should never have lost to Liverpool. So why should he change?"
Sir Alex Ferguson is not one of those people.
The Manchester United boss held off Rafael Benitez's Reds down the stretch last term to claim a third straight PL crown, and he doubts that the Merseysiders will pose any more of a threat this time around.
"It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them," Ferguson told The Sun.
"Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift."
Some observers have begun leaning towards the Scot's way of thinking now that 'Pool have confirmed that Xabi Alonso, arguably their star man last season, is on his way to Real Madrid.
However, Ferguson is not convinced that the Spanish midfielder's departure will have much of an effect either way, as he is of the opinion that the Scousers' greatest weapons lie further afield.
"The thrust of their team is all about [Steven] Gerrard and [Fernando] Torres," he added.
Still, the question remains: who will be Man United's most dangerous rivals in 2009-10? Ferguson believes the answer is to be found in west London.
"It has to be Chelsea as the main threat. [Carlo] Ancelotti will change how they play," he said.
"They will play the Milan way. It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three, because they should never have lost to Liverpool. So why should he change?"
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