Liverpool's No. 1 hater wants Reds in CL draw

Last updated : 21 March 2002 By Ananova


Gary Neville claims life would not be worth living if Manchester United were to lose to Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals.

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Gary Neville
The two fiercest of rivals have a one-in-three chance of facing each other in the last eight.

United topped their group above Bayern Munich and Liverpool progressed as runners-up behind Barcelona.

Neville's "dislike" of Liverpool has helped make him a cult figure among United fans, and he would not be able to bear it if they were beaten by the Merseysiders again.

Neville has been on the losing side with United on the last five occasions, and it is a feeling he hates.

"Obviously that would be a real heavyweight clash that everyone would look forward to, playing Liverpool," he said.

"It would be something. I can't remember it happening before, to be honest with you.

"I think two German teams drew each other maybe three or four years ago - I think it was Bayern and Dortmund - but it would be a real nerve-tingler for us to get Liverpool.

"It would be a case really that you would not want to turn up to training the next day or live the next day if you lost one of those games."

An all-English quarter-final would certainly stir the blood, and the last such clash was in 1978 when Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool on their way to lifting the European Cup for the first time.

Neville would not be worried if United drew Liverpool and he claims it is inevitable the Reds will be handed a tough assignment in the last eight because of the quality of the quarter-finalists.

Sir Alex Ferguson is glad United have avoided favourites Real Madrid, but for Neville Deportivo La Coruna are the biggest danger.

Deportivo have beaten United and Arsenal home and away this season and Neville feels they are currently the best side around.

"I watched Deportivo last week against Arsenal and, having played against them this season, I think they are the best team in Europe at the minute," he said.

"I think, to be honest with you, we did our job in getting top of the group - and whoever we play it's going to be a tough game in the quarter-finals.

"At the end of the day we're in the quarter-finals of the European Cup, and if you're going to win this trophy then you've got to beat the best teams.

"There are going to be eight very, very good teams left in the quarter-final draw."