Former Liverpool and Manchester United captain Paul Ince believes the Reds’ Champions League win in June was very similar to how United kicked off their dominance in the 1990s.

The Red Devils won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1991, and that side then went on to win their first Premier League just two years later, and Ince sees a direct parallel between the two clubs:

“I think losing the title last year destroyed them, but the fact they had a game after and won the Champions League it gave them that lift – that confidence to win it.”

“We did it at Man United in 1991 when we beat Barcelona in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. It was the catalyst. You could sense the different mentality in the players – we could beat anyone because once you beat Barcelona, you can.”

Ince thinks the Reds are now likely to go on and win the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City:

“And you see that with Liverpool now, the confidence, the experience of losing it last year – that won’t faze them now. There won’t be talk about titles, the club won’t allow it. They will just be taking it one game at a time. Last year I always felt like Man City would win it, now I don’t.”

Liverpool face off against United this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp’s men aiming to put an 18 point gap between the two sides with just nine games played.

The Reds’ record at Old Trafford isn’t great with just one win in 13 attempts but the Merseysiders are favourites following United’s poor start to the season.

With key players Paul Pogba and David De Gea having been ruled out by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Klopp’s side will be expected to get the three points. They must, though, back up their favourites tag with a good performance on Sunday.