As a boyhood Everton fan, Wayne Rooney grew up despising Liverpool. As a Manchester United player, that hate has only intensified.
And on the eve of tomorrow's title showdown at Old Trafford, Rooney said nothing would give him greater pleasure than for United to put an end to Liverpool's title hopes.
United will finally end Liverpool's fading hopes of a first domestic title in 19 years with victory over their Merseyside rivals and Rooney said: "I'm very excited about the game because I grew up as an Everton fan hating Liverpool - and that hasn't changed.
"If we can beat Liverpool it will almost certainly put them out of the title race and that will be great for everybody at Old Trafford - and especially for me.
"No other game is ever going to get in the way of United and Liverpool," said Rooney. "For me, it's always our biggest game of the season. It's always a massive fixture and especially so this time with what's at stake.
"Liverpool have put up a great challenge this season but it would be nice if we could end that challenge at our place.
"Games against Liverpool are always anxious. I'm sure it will be frantic with a lot of challenges and it's going to be difficult for both teams."
Despite Liverpool's remorseless 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid at Anfield in midweek, Rooney, 23, said United do not fear Rafa Benitez's side.
In fact, Rooney claimed it is Liverpool who should be filled with trepidation because United have not produced their best form this season - yet are still seven points clear at the top.
"We always try to entertain and the manager tells us we must try to do that," said Rooney.
"I'm sure we've entertained a lot of people this season. But we feel we have another level to reach because you can always play better.
"With the players we've got we should be scoring more goals. I remember Chelsea winning 1-0 so often three or four years ago.
"Thankfully, our defence means we can hold on to 1-0 leads with confidence. But taking our chances is something we're working on and we've done better in the last few weeks."
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The place in history that awaits United's players if they can win the title this season and equal Liverpool's longstanding record of 18 championship wins is not lost on Rooney.
But for Rooney, overcoming the new threat posed by the rise of Chelsea, who looked set to dominate for years when Roman Abramovich came along, remains this United side's finest achievement.
"It will be a great achievement if we can win the league a third year on the run, especially after Chelsea won it two years running," said Rooney.
"They made it hard to see anyone else winning it for a while. But we've bounced back as a club and as a quality team and, if we can do it again, it will be a great feeling."
After Wednesday's 2-0 win over Inter Milan, which secured United's place in the Champions League quarter-finals, the unprecedented Quintuple is still on.
With a commanding lead in the Premier League, an FA Cup semi-final against Everton and every chance of retaining the European Cup, United's players stand on the brink of history.
Adding those three trophies to the Carling Cup and Club World Cup would eclipse United's Treble-winning heroes of 1999 and set a new standard which may never be matched.
"Five trophies is still possible and it's a great feeling," said Rooney.
"We know it's going to be tough to win all five, but that's why we have the squad and we'll need it."
United must wait until a week today to discover their quarter-final opponents in the Champions League, with an all-English tie a distinct possibility for Fergie's men.
But whoever United face, Rooney claimed they will have no fear, such is the confidence among Fergie's squad following their Champions League triumph over Chelsea last year.
"The further we go the more confident we become of winning it again," said Rooney. "I wouldn't say there's a team we fear, but if we can eliminate their qualities and show ours, then I'm sure we'll be in there challenging for the European Cup again this season."
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