KD: It's not me versus Ferguson

Dozens of reporters turned up to Melwood on Thursday ahead of one of the tastiest encounters in any football calendar.

But Dalglish batted away questions about any rivalry between himself and the fellow Glaswegian who will be in the opposing dugout.

Instead he is focusing on narrowing the six-point deficit between ourselves and the Reds from Manchester.

The boss said: "We've got an opportunity to reduce the gap and it's up to us to take it.

"They are a fantastic team, a hugely successful football club, and we know it's going to be a very difficult game. But I think they'll look at it and think exactly the same thing.

"I don't have any individual contest with Fergie. It's the football clubs who play. We don't play anymore. We can't really influence it other than in the build-up and preparation for the games. The most important thing for us is how we compete as a team on the pitch.

"The head to head (between him and Ferguson) - I haven't got a clue what it is and it doesn't really matter to me anyway. I'm in competition with him because we're competing on Saturday, but over and above that, as I've always said, we're a unit, everyone's got a role to play.

"I'm not egotistical, I'm not in this to get one over anyone else. This football club is more important than me and always will be. The result on Saturday is more important because it's about how millions of other people feel, rather than how I feel. It's not a boxing match, it's a game of football.

"They are in a position that everyone wants to be in, and that's top position in the league. You cannot argue with that because you want to be there yourself. They've set a standard for everyone else to follow or surpass and it's up to us to take up the challenge."

Click on the play button below to watch Kenny's press conference

One weakness displayed by Manchester United this term has been their inability to stop opposition sides creating chances.

Asked if that was encouraging heading into the lunchtime encounter, Dalglish replied: "Our encouragement comes from the quality of the players we have here.

"I don't think you're ever given anything - you have to earn it. That's why we're comfortable: because the players we have can earn chances for themselves. We just need to look after ourselves. If someone wants to present you with a chance, we've got to take it, but we've got to go on the pitch knowing that we'll have to create chances. "

One reporter suggested that Liverpool versus Manchester United was the defining game in the Barclays Premier League, but Dalglish was having none of that.

"It doesn't define the Premier League for me," he said. "The Premier League has got a lot of fantastic football clubs in it, some great games every week outside of Manchester United v Liverpool.

"I think you're undermining the Premier League and the importance of the Premier League to many millions of people. For us it's an important game. We want to go out and do our best but the Premier League as an entity has just as important teams as Manchester United and Liverpool."

Dalglish was also probed on the fact Manchester United's ticket allocation for Anfield has been reduced this season.

He said: "That's nothing to do with me. If we produce what we can produce on the pitch you won't hear them anyway. I don't know the number of people coming in or if it's been reduced or the reason why. That's not for us to be concerned about."

Meanwhile, the Scot was giving nothing away on whether Steven Gerrard would make his first start since March following several substitute appearances since leaving the treatment room.

"We'll continue to manage it as well as we have done up until now," said Dalglish. "We're not in any position to sit here and disclose our team for two days' time but we're delighted with the progress he's made and he's delighted with the way he's been looked after, in a very professional and considerate manner.

"We'll continue to do that and when we think he's ready to play or when we need him to play, he'll be the first to answer the call. We're not going to sit here just now and tell you what our team is."