Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, believes Sunday's Premier League clash against old rivals Liverpool will keep with tradition and be as fierce as ever. United are looking to retain top spot in the table, while Liverpool come to Old Trafford on the back of seven straight league wins

Games between the two clubs are billed as derbies, and Ferguson is expecting passion to be running high at Old Trafford this weekend.

"You can't avoid the intensity of it, the tension, the atmosphere," he said. "The Liverpool game brings out a certain anticipation in players. It's a game players all want to play in, so we'll have some disappointed players tomorrow who are not playing.

"Liverpool coming to our ground, a derby game, is always a difficult game. They are very solid defensively and they are talking about the Steven Gerrard-Fernando Torres partnership. We know about Steven Gerrard, of course, he has played many of these derby games.

"We have to do our preparation but if we play to our form we will have a good chance against anyone. We hope we can continue our form and get the result we want."

Ferguson will look to Cristiano Ronaldo as his trump card. The Portugal striker scored both goals in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers which took his tally for the season to 33 in all competitions.

"The boy's form obviously demands your attention and you are giving him plenty of that," Ferguson said. "I can't do anything about that, it's not my department. He wouldn't be getting it if he wasn't doing it.

"We have to be pleased with that. His form is absolutely fantastic, there is no end to where we think he can go. He has got the world in front of him. His tenacity to keep getting the ball and courage to keep it up all the time is terrific. I want the boy to continue doing what he is doing and hopefully it'll be a successful season for the team."