"I don't hold any grudges towards Gerard Houllier," said Friedel, who made just 25 league appearances for the Merseyside giants during his time at Anfield.
"He had to change a lot at that club because there's a lot which needed to be changed.
"So he's revamped the whole set-up and players have to come in, just as much as players have to be moved out.
"But I don't regret signing for them for one second because I believe you learn more in adverse situations than you do in positive ones.
"It wasn't an unbelievable time for me in football terms but I learnt more in those three years than I have, possibly, at any other time in my career.
"You learn so much about yourself and so much about other people, both good and bad, and if I didn't have that chapter in my life then I don't think this one would be as good.
"So I don't want to beat Liverpool because of anything Mr Houllier did, I want to beat them because it's three points.
"Yes, you want to play well and, yes, I want to win but I don't have any animosity towards them, just as I don't have any animosity towards Manchester United."
