We go to Liverpool next Sunday for the biggest league game of the season. There are a variety of reasons why this fixture is so important - the cities are very close yet have different cultures, both clubs have enjoyed great periods at different times in the past 40 years, and now we're level on the number of championships won.

It's always been a really great game to play in. Obviously we never want to lose, but it's the same for both teams. Liverpool has been the biggest game of the season for a long time, going back 30 years or more, and our rivalry with Liverpool is bigger than our rivalry with Manchester City.

Liverpool may have beaten us twice in the league last season, but I wouldn't say we're looking for revenge. When the top teams play against each other, it seems to go through cycles and teams have good results and bad results. We know that anything can happen in these kind of games, so the main thing is not losing. The most important thing at the end of the season is winning the league, and we're delighted that we won it last season. I suppose we'd rather lose both games again and win the league than beat Liverpool and not win the league.

Liverpool haven't had the best start to the season but even if we beat them, it would be too early to write off their championship challenge. The difference would only be around seven points and we've still got 29 games to go. We say this every year at our club because we have the experience of going through it, but you can't make any predictions at all until January/February.

Teams can win six games on the run and they'll be back up there again. The atmosphere in Liverpool-United games is great... if you're winning! Obviously, the atmosphere at Anfield is great, and it's the same when they come to Old Trafford. The first thing to try and do away from home is silence the crowd because the fans are passionate. They are the best games to play football in, but also the hardest games to lose.

I don't get a great reception at Anfield I must say - I'm not their favourite son. No United players get a good reception at Anfield, but it's the same for their players at our ground, and it is to be expected.

Pain in Ukraine

I don't think England fans should be too concerned about the 1-0 defeat to Ukraine. It was a hard game, we'd already qualified, and although that is never an excuse in football, a hidden thing can kick in and take the edge off a player's game because they've won the war. Ukraine were still fighting to get to the World Cup so it was a bigger game for them than it was for England.

Rio Ferdinand won't be too worried about the criticism he received for his performance. No one can play for England for a long period without receiving criticism along the way. Ferdinand will want to reverse the criticism, but he will accept it as part of the job. Frank Lampard suggested afterwards that goalkeepers should not be sent off for fouling and preventing a goal-scoring opportunity in the box - a penalty is enough. But I think sometimes there is cynicism involved, and the rule was brought in because of the cynical attitude mainly from defenders bringing people down outside the box when they were through. I think it's been a good rule; you can't have one rule for defenders and one for goalkeepers.

Over to you

Are players curious to know the scores of other matches at half time? Kevin Tabone

Sometimes half-time scores filter into the dressing room, and sometimes I hear them over the tannoy when walking off the pitch or see them on the scoreboard. But nobody asks while we're playing. Maybe someone might ask when we're winning 4-0, but only very rarely. Certainly players will ask about the teams around us at the end of a game - Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool - teams that will affect us winning the championship.

I have read in the British newspapers that you don't respect Liverpool FC - Is this true? Philip Pace, St Venera

I've never said I don't respect Liverpool. Over the years, what I've said has been twisted to the point that papers write whatever they want. You have to respect a team that has been as successful as they have and has the history and tradition they have. But I'm a United fan and the rivalry is well documented. United fans want United to win and Liverpool to lose, and it's the same the other way.

Send questions to Gary Neville to sunday@timesofmalta.com.