The Scot believes the blistering form of Brendan Rodgers’ men this season and their lofty league position means his team are underdogs

David Moyes has suggested Manchester United will go into Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford as the underdogs.

United will go into the game 11 points off their great rivals and facing a monumental task to finish in the top four and secure Champions League qualification.

After several seasons outside the title fight, Liverpool have launched into the upper echelons this season, and Moyes believes their strong showings, coupled with their lofty league position, make Brendan Rodgers’ side favourites.

However, Moyes has backed his players to come good and avenge a 1-0 defeat at Anfield in the opening weeks of the season.

“Their league position suggests they’re ahead of us,” he told reporters. “They possibly do come here favourites.

“I don’t know if you will find out a great deal more in these matches from what we’ve been.

“You know what we are. We are a work in progress. We are looking to make changes in time. But I hope we can show what we are capable of.

“We are capable of winning these games. The players have shown it to me recently.

“It is a massively important game because of what it means to supporters and it is important to us because we want to keep climbing the table and clawing the points back and see what position we can get ourselves into.

“My biggest goal is not affecting their title challenge, it is to get United winning the title.”

The Northern Irishman says signing world-class players has been difficult due to the Reds’ exile from Europe and believes David Moyes could encounter similar problems

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers expects Manchester United “will suffer” if they lose their place in the Champions League.

David Moyes’ side sit sixth in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday but are nine points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who have two games in hand.

Rodgers admits player recruitment has been hindered following Liverpool’s exile from the Champions League and believes United will face similar problems if they are not in the competition next season.

“We are 11 points clear [of United] now; if it goes to 14, they can’t do it,” Rodgers told reporters.

“Even 11 is going to be very tough because we are entering into a period where we are stronger.

“Our first job is to ­consolidate fourth place and then work upwards. That will be the aim.

“We still have a lot of work to get into the Champions League, but when you’re not in it, it’s so difficult.

“This club is a worldwide club, monumental, but we found it difficult because the best players want to play in the best competitions.

“This was Liverpool and we weren’t in the Champions League and to get in the type of players we want, that’s where we need to be and trying to be.

“Any club will suffer the same when they’re not in there. There is no doubt it will hurt you but they will know that.”

Manchester United boss David Moyes has described Sunday’s clash with rivals Liverpool as “the biggest game in the Premier League”.

As in recent seasons, the fixture does not pit two title rivals against one another, although this time around it is the reigning champions who have struggled to keep pace at the top rather than their Merseyside visitors.

Due to Moyes’ rocky first season in charge, it could be argued his side will be underdogs at Old Trafford this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers’ charges have taken 23 points from a possible 27 since the turn of the year and are in the title reckoning thanks, in part, to the fearsome strike duo of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, who have helped Liverpool net 73 league goals this season.

While the Reds have not won at Old Trafford in their last six attempts in all competitions, Moyes acknowledged on Friday that United could have their work cut out, even on home turf.

“I think it’s the biggest game in the Premier League,” he said. “There has been great history between the two clubs over a long period.

“[Winning on Sunday] would be a big boost. It would be an important three points. Their league position suggests they’re ahead of us and they possibly do come here as favourites.”

While Liverpool require a win to maintain title momentum, three points for the champions would merely serve to keep their faint hopes of Champions League qualification alive.

Indeed, the Europa League looks a more realistic proposition, although even that is not a guarantee in a season that has seen United beaten eight times in the top flight.

They sit five points behind fifth-place Spurs, having played a game less, with Sunday’s fixture the first of three vital games in just a fortnight.

On Wednesday, they will seek to turn around a two-goal first-leg deficit against Olympiakos in the Champions League last 16 before hosting rivals Manchester City the following Tuesday.

Rodgers will hope Sturridge can add to his 18 Premier League goals and put a further dent in United’s season, but the England international feels the result at Old Trafford is not make or break. 

“We have got big games regardless of the Manchester United result,” the forward told the club’s official website.

“Of course we want to do as well as we can in every single game and get maximum points if we can, but it is important we keep playing the football we do.

“I don’t think winning at the weekend is going to change anything in regards to the title race.”

Moyes was handed a boost in midweek with Nani’s return to training from a hamstring injury, while Rafael [ankle], Javier Hernandez [knee] and Jonny Evans [calf] could all return for Sunday’s clash.

Rodgers, too, has been boosted after Lucas Leiva [knee] and Mamadou Sakho [tendon tear] returned to contention following spells on the sidelines.