Rio Ferdinand happy to silence Liverpool fans

18 May 2009 10:29
The two great rivals are now tied together on 18 league titles, a mark Liverpool reached in 1990. Liverpool have beaten United home and away this season and challenged Alex Ferguson's side all the way, and Ferdinand says that level of competition made his side's ultimate triumph all the more rewarding. "It's been a bit more intense because it's a lot closer to home than when it's Chelsea or Arsenal challenging you," said Ferdinand. "Suddenly everywhere you go at the moment there's a Liverpool fan. "You get a bit of respite when your main rivals is one of the London clubs, but because we're such close neighbours up here there's always something being said. "And of course the rivalry between the clubs goes back a long way. Overtaking that record would definitely be the next aim." Ferdinand also revealed that winning the Club World Cup in December was a crucial factor in United's season. "It was definitely a big turning point," he said. "When you're really in the thick of the English season you sometimes can't focus properly or see where you're aiming for. "Going to Japan allowed us to take a step back and refocus and by coming home with the trophy, we got that winning feeling back, which was important. "The fact other teams hadn't really taken advantage of us being away was another incentive to make sure we went on a good run and thankfully we did."

Source: Telegraph