United are in much the better shape as they prepare to face their great rivals at Anfield.
Ferguson's men are top of the Barclays Premier League and well on course for a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
In contrast Liverpool are lurching towards a crisis after a run of four successive defeats which has left them struggling to maintain interest in both competitions.
Yet Ferguson has faced Liverpool enough times during his long tenure at Old Trafford to know to expect the unexpected.
The Scot said: "Manchester United and Liverpool games, as I have said many times, are without question massive games. That will never change.
"It is the kind of game when I came to the club 23 years ago, I thought 'Yeah'.
"In my first derby game with them I got a complete sense of the history of both teams and it hasn't changed. It is still a massive game.
"It is the game as far as I am concerned, that won't change.
United confidence
"We are going in in decent form, there is good confidence in our play, but it is a derby game and anything can happen in derby games.
"Going to Anfield at any time is a hard game."
Victory for United would add considerably to the growing pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
Yet Ferguson, subject of a remarkable attack from Benitez last season, is quick to point out that is no concern of his.
"I'm not interested in Liverpool," the 67-year-old said. "I'm only concerned about what we do on Sunday."
United comfortably held off Liverpool to take the title last season, even though they lost twice at the hands of Benitez's men.
The second of those occasions was a 4-1 humbling at Old Trafford but, having had the last laugh by equalling Liverpool's record of 18 league wins, Ferguson does not feel there are scores to settle.
He added: "I don't see that we have a point to prove. Different games are shaped by circumstances of games.
"You can't look at last season as a barometer of our form or Liverpool's form. Derby games are derby games and anyone can win it.
"Strange things can happen. It has happened so many times."
Do you think there is any danger of complacency ahead of the game? Have your say.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
PatBlackFlash (23/10/2009 at 14:02)
mick the red fireman, middleton (23/10/2009 at 14:17)
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (23/10/2009 at 14:35)
Doylee, worsley (23/10/2009 at 15:02)
United 18, Huddersfield Town 3, City 2 (League Titles), Wilmslow (23/10/2009 at 15:27)
23/10/2009 at 14:02
Exactly mate. Doesn't get any bigger than this, two biggest clubs in England with the biggest trohpy cabinets.
If the size of games were judged on trophy cabinets, City's "Big One" would be against Huddersfield Town !!!
PO (23/10/2009 at 16:28)
What's that, the M62 Derby, the Red Shirt wearing Derby? I'm confused.
Red-Brit-in-It (23/10/2009 at 16:33)
Gilly, Belgium (23/10/2009 at 16:58)
Forza !!
Algernon Blabbermouth, eccles (23/10/2009 at 17:04)
The Manchester derby may involve bragging right's but it ends there. This game has a bearing of where the title ends up! Likewise the games with Chelsea and The Arse have the same importance but because of the distance,they lack the intensity!
I mean....how can a game against a team who have won nowt for the 34years and apart from spending numerous seaons in another division,when we were winning the treble,citeh were trying to get out of the old THIRD TIER!
So..how can it compare????
Happy Valley Barry, San Francisco, California (23/10/2009 at 17:23)
United go to Moscow with a most unlikely team and win convincingly.
Sunday is just one game and win or lose, Liverpool today are not even close to the quality of Man United. United look a bit awkward at times but still get the results, they are a team of players in harmony with each other, they are looking scary good this season and awkward or not,
the Champions League football show on tv (here in the states) said last night they believe United to be the best team in the world right now!
Up the Reds!
cockney (23/10/2009 at 19:33)
si 4 kop, Runcorn (23/10/2009 at 22:53)
"they are looking scary good this season"? Is that some sort of sick joke? You struggled against Arsenal at home and got a penalty and Diaby O.G. Another O.G against Sunderland. Another O.G against Bolton. 7mins injury time against City. Your fooling yourself mate! Must be the air over there! Must be a right pain in the backside getting to the games for you!
Everyone else is a one or two man team now. This phenonmenon has only come about since Ronaldo left your club!! You need to give yourself a good dressing down in the mirror pal.
steve the wandering red manc, Australia (24/10/2009 at 04:15)
Moonboots (24/10/2009 at 07:38)
It’s a little sad I know but I did an exercise looking at how much City and united have spent on their first team squads as there’s been a lot of criticism of City ‘buying’ success.
From various sources I’ve gathered reported transfer fee’s for what could be construed as a starting eleven and subs. I’ve tried to be realistic and not favour City as that would have just been a spurious exercise.
As I understand it United have spent the following on their top players: VDS: £2m, Silva £2.6m, Evra £5.5m, Ferdy £31.5, Vidic £7, Carrick £18m, Valencia £16m, Nani £14m, Berbatov £30.75, Rooney £27m, Anderson £17m, Kuscczak £3, Hargreaves £17m, Scoles free, Evans free, Giggs free, Neville free. Total £191m
City: Given £5m, Richards free, Bridge £10, Toure £14, Lescott £24, Kompany £6, Barry £12m, Ireland free, Tevez £25m, Adebayor £25m, SWP £10m, Taylor free, Sylvino free, Zabaleta £6.45m, Robinho £32m, Onourah free, Santa Cruz £18m. Total £187m.
Now I might have got a few prices wrong and you could argue different players should be included/excluded but overall its quite close…so next time you say City are buying success just remember that you’ve done the same.
skarambu, malta (24/10/2009 at 09:05)
Siralex, Stavanger (24/10/2009 at 09:09)
---------------------------------VDS----------------------------------
-----------------------Rio-----------------Evans----------------------
O'Shea------------------------------------------------------------Evra
---------------------Fletcher-------------Carrick-----------------------
Valencia-----------------------------------------------------------Nani
--------------------------------Giggs----------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------Berbatov-------------------------------
Bench: Foster, Brown, Vidic, Scholes, Anderson, Owen, Rooney
M J O'Connor (24/10/2009 at 11:09)
Matthew Savage (24/10/2009 at 12:25)
24/10/2009 at 07:38
It was a spurious exercise because it takes no consideration of the expenditure per annum and many of the values you have stated are dependent on performance: Nani and Anderson particularly.
brokeback monton (24/10/2009 at 12:26)
Unit acquired these players over a 10 year period, city bought them in 2 transfer windows.
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (24/10/2009 at 12:31)
City: Given £5m, Richards free, Bridge £10, Toure £14, Lescott £24, Kompany £6, Barry £12m, Ireland free, Tevez £25m, Adebayor £25m, SWP £10m, Taylor free, Sylvino free, Zabaleta £6.45m, Robinho £32m, Onourah free, Santa Cruz £18m. Total £187m.
You forgot: Bellamy Toure, Garrido, Onuoha, among others. All of 'em cost nowt obviously, or are you over the 191 million that we've spent . . . .if not, add on 20 million for the REAL price you paid for the Argie.
Now delete Ronaldo 80 million, and you've spent twice the amount we have.
AND, how many medals have your bounty hunters won? Over how many years have we made our 100 million outlay and how many medals do our guys have to show? I would say that we invest lean and mean whilst your daft loud small minded club throw the arabian cash at anything that moves.
Do you remember a couple o' weeks ago when OWEN banged the ball into the bitter blue net? I do.
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (24/10/2009 at 12:39)
24/10/2009 at 09:05
Greetings to Malta. I was there on a short holiday about 2 years ago, and was pleasantly surprised to witness just how many United supporters live in/on Malta. Was on a couple of maltese busses where there are pictures of United (and Rooney for example) in the front. All United games are shown in various pubs and restaurants throughout the island, and there are a lot of red shirts to be seen all around. Felt like home, just warmer.
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (24/10/2009 at 12:40)
24/10/2009 at 11:09
you said it. It's a wind up.
Algernon Blabbermouth, eccles (24/10/2009 at 13:09)
Siralex, Stavanger (24/10/2009 at 14:14)
So it will look like. Formation 4-4-1-1
VDS
O'Shea, Rio, Evans, Evra
Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani
Giggs
Berbatov
Bench: Foster, Brown, Vidic, Scholes, Anderson, Owen, Rooney
M J O'Connor (24/10/2009 at 14:57)