Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson fired off an incendiary broadside at arch-rivals Liverpool ahead of today’s Old Trafford showdown, claiming Rafa Benitez’s team are a one-season wonder.

Fergie is still fuming from this fixture last season, when United took the lead only to capitulate to a 4-1 defeat in which Nemanja Vidic was sent off.

Liverpool lost fewer games than United last season and pushed their rivals all the way in the title race.

Many expected them to come back even stronger this season but Ferguson insisted he always thought last season’s challenge was a one-off from a side that had reached its peak.

“I thought it was an exceptional season and I thought it would be difficult to achieve that again.

That was just my opinion,” said the Old Trafford boss. “Did they over perform?

Yes. I think they did very well. When they got that run going they showed form and consistency.

That helps,” he added of a team that are now struggling to secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

“I think that their challenge last year was obviously championship form but sometimes a team peaks and sometimes it’s difficult to do again.

“It happened to me and, in my second full season, we ended up middle of the league,” added the Scot, who could welcome back Ryan Giggs from a broken arm.

“I think everyone expected Liverpool to be better but they are not and the challenge for them, along with a few others, is to get that fourth spot, which is a league of its own. I think we can all say with certainty that one of ourselves, Arsenal or Chelsea are going to win the league.

But no one has any certainty about fourth place, it changes every week almost.”

And just to wind up Benitez and his players even further, Ferguson admits he was not surprised to see Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard escape an FA suspension despite footage showing him elbowing Michael Brown

“They are lucky like that. Maybe one day we will get lucky,” he said.

Gerrard, meanwhile, has warned United that the return to fitness of Fernando Torres could have a huge impact on the outcome of the game.

“There is lot more to come from Fernando in a Liverpool shirt, believe me,” said the England midfielder. “He had been out a long time so it was only natural that it was going to take him a few games to find his rhythm, but he is closing in on that now and it is fantastic for the team.

“Every time you go to Old Trafford, you expect a tough game but we are going in after two good performances.

“We will give it a really good go.”