By ESPN staff
Kenny Dalglish insists Saturday's derby with Manchester United is merely a chance for Liverpool to move within three points of their title rivals.
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United moved ahead of Liverpool by winning their 19th league title last season, so for the first time in several decades the Reds go into the derby as England's second most successful side when it comes to league championships.
Sir Alex Ferguson, traditionally, has made no effort to hide the fact that he views United's clashes with Liverpool as the biggest of the season, but Dalglish say s he will treat it like any other game and the opportunity to earn three points.
"People say this is the biggest game of the season but I don't look at any game as being big or small," Dalglish said. "It's another game, another three points for a win. The only difference this time is the fact that, if we win, we will move a bit closer to them. It's an opportunity to help yourself and dent their chances at the same time."
But Dalglish stressed personal rivalry between himself and Sir Alex Ferguson was not a motivating factor as the two heavyweights prepare to clash again.
''I don't have any individual contest with Fergie,'' said the Reds boss.
''These are football clubs that are playing - we don't play any more. We can't influence anything other than what we do in the build-up and preparation for the games.
''The most important thing for us is to how we compete on the pitch as a team. Head to head (against Ferguson)? I wouldn't have a clue what the score is in that and it doesn't really matter to me. I am in competition with him because we are playing against them on Saturday
but over and above that we are a unit.
''Everyone has an important role to play and if I continue to do my job, the
players do theirs, the fans and owners do theirs we will be much better off. It is not about someone getting one over on someone else - it is about the
football club.''
Liverpool won the corresponding fixture 3-1 last season thanks to a Dirk Kuyt hat-trick, but past performances do not matter to the Reds manager, who merely promised United a tough 90 minutes.
"In this fixture last season, we got our reward for playing very well and won 3-1, but we won't get anything on Saturday because of what we did the last time we faced off against them," he said.
"We know what we're up against and so do they. Nobody will have an easy 90 minutes. That's what the Premier League is all about."
Captain Steven Gerrard should be available to start for Liverpool and Dalglish maintained his oft-repeated mantra about protecting the
31-year-old and not pushing him too hard.
''We are delighted with the progress he has made and he is delighted by the way
he has been looked after,'' said the Scot.
''When we think he is ready to play he will be the first to answer the call but
we are not going to sit here and tell you what the team is.
''We will base the decision on where he is at the moment and what he has done
so far - we don't need to go back and through his history or what he has done
against Manchester United. We just have to see where he is at the moment and if we think it is right he
will play.''
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