'It's a game for big players and influential people'
Gary McAllister has described meetings between Liverpool and Manchester United as games where 'big players' come to the fore.
Brendan Rodgers' side will have something of a good luck charm with them when they head to Old Trafford on Saturday to take on the old enemy in the Barclays Premier League.
During Gary Mac's two seasons at the club as a player, the Reds won all five of their meetings with their bitter rivals, with the Scot featuring in three.
Two of those games ended in Danny Murphy winners, while McAllister himself netted a crucial penalty in a 2-1 Community Shield success in Cardiff.
Now, the former midfielder wants to see one of the current crop make a name for themselves, especially with key man Philippe Coutinho unavailable through suspension this weekend.
"We've made some big signings in the summer," McAllister told Liverpoolfc.com in an interview which is available to watch for LFCTV GO subscribers here.
"Unfortunately we don't have Philippe available but these are games if you can make an impact and influence this type of game, fans will always [remember].
"It's a game for big players and influential people.
"A couple of the games I [played in I] came from the bench and I remember Danny Murphy dominated those games.
"I was involved in a 2-1 victory in the Community Shield in Cardiff [as well] - so good memories."
The enmity between Liverpool and Manchester United is only strengthened by the fact that they remain the two most successful clubs in the history of English football.
And McAllister believes the game eclipses even the famous 'Clasico' clash in Spain in terms of its size and appeal.
"I'm a big fan of Spanish football, I'm a fan of the way Real Madrid and Barcelona play, but there's something about a British game," he added.
"The fans, the intensity, what it means to both sets of players, the bragging rights of both cities; I much prefer this British game, I think it's probably one of the biggest games in the world.
"I think even the five or six years of being away from football, working in the media, this is a fixture even when you're not involved you looked for.
"It's a game that grabs everybody, all neutrals, even if you're not involved in either club.
"It's one of those go-to fixtures."
But, while he knows just how much is at stake on Saturday, the most recent addition to the first-team coaching staff is not expecting a tight, tense affair.
"Looking at them in my experience of being near and in around these matches, with TV or being involved, I don't see it being particularly cagey," he explained.
"There might be periods where it just flattens a little but I think once both sets of fans get involved and the first tackle happens it soon turns into a great game to view."