Alex Ferguson (L) jokes with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
© AFP Andrew Yates

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Ferguson is adamant that Liverpool cannot be written off as title challengers despite a costly 2-0 defeat against leaders United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Though their remarkable European Cup comeback and subsequent triumph etched Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez's name into Anfield folklore, the gap to United and second-placed Chelsea will almost certainly be too much for even his side to claw back.

Paul Scholes - on his 500th appearance for United - and Rio Ferdinand scored the goals to take United back to the summit of the Premiership and extend Liverpool's league struggles.

Ferguson remains convinced that this could be the year when United wrestle the title from Stamford Bridge but is refusing the discount the threat from Anfield.

He said: "I would still look as far down as Liverpool because they've got a very good run-in.

"I will not dismiss a Liverpool team because of the manager and the way he re-arranges things.

"But at the moment I'm just looking at Manchester United, for us to step forward and have a real go this year."

United's Gary Neville (L) fights for the ball against Liverpool's Sami Hyypia
© AFP Andrew Yates

Scholes' virtuoso performance will have only increased the frustration for England coach Steve MacClaren who has tried, and failed, to tempt the midfielder out of his self-imposed international exile.

The former England midfielder was inspired and yesterday joined Ferguson's two other homegrown stars in Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville in breaking the 500-game barrier.

So it was fitting that his achievement should result in such an important goal, sliding home Giggs' cross despite both Jose Reina and Sami Hyypia's efforts.

Ferguson admitted: "I had a feeling Paul would score and it was probably written in the script.

"But he really deserves it and it was a great moment for him to score such an important goal against his deadliest rivals."

Despite a promising start to their Champions League campaign, the Premiership has proven a struggle so far for Benitez.

Dropped points against Sheffield United, Blackburn and Bolton - and a miserable, humiliating defeat to bitter rivals Everton - meant that victory at Old Trafford was imperative.

Benitez admitted: "That is football, you cannot change things now if you think about it too much. If you want to be able to have possibilities, you have to start winning games.

United's Rio Ferdinand (L) challenges Liverpool's Peter Crouch
© AFP Andrew Yates

"We are 11 points behind but I don't have to analyse the situation every day. We will work harder and better but we must think about Aston Villa next weekend.

"We could talk about it for months but if we win that game it's a long, long race and we will see after so many games if we have options or not.

"I want to change things and improve the things that we're not doing well. But I'm not going to blame the players because they worked really hard."

Ferdinand, whose last goal for United had also come against Liverpool last season, was delighted to score in front of his young son Lorenz, who was attending his first match at Old Trafford.

"It was my little boy's first game at United. Hopefully he can come every week and he could be a a lucky charm for me." said Ferdinand. "Then I'll be on the scoresheet a lot more often."

Ferdinand added: "These matches have been good to me in the last few years. I've scored a few goals and managed to win a few games.

"It was goal of the month! I'm just happy it went it. More importantly we put in a good performance."

In typically modest fashion Scholes played down his contribution and said: "It doesn't matter if it's your first or 500th game, playing for United is always special."

©AFP