ROY HODGSON believes Liverpool’s visit to Manchester United ranks among the greatest fixtures in Europe – and is determined to improve his own record on such major occasions.

Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are among a clutch of senior players expected to return when Hodgson’s side make the short journey down the M62 to Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon.

Hodgson is fully aware of the magnitude of the blockbusting clash between England’s two most successful clubs, and believes it draws comparisons to the Inter Milan-Juventus showdown in Serie A.

As coach at Inter, the 63-year-old was involved in several such encounters but admits he rarely came out on the winning side.

And Hodgson is keen to right that particular wrong with Liverpool desperate to kickstart their spluttering Premier League campaign.

“I relished the huge games at Inter, they were fascinating affairs because of the different rivalries, and obviously the Manchester United–Liverpool game is the same level,” said the Anfield manager. “It is a huge game on a global scale.

“It compares with Inter v Juventus more than the Milan derby. The Milan derby was a big occasion but the ‘derby d’Italia’, Inter v Juventus, was the real killer one, the one that grabbed the imagination, and it certainly compares with that. It generates interest far beyond the local rivalries.

“This game on Sunday is the same in terms of the interest it generates in the two cities and the whole country. When Inter played Juventus it was something which occupied the thoughts and minds and generated the opinions of the whole country.”

Hodgson added: “I relished being involved at Inter and no doubt will feel the same about the game this weekend… but I’m hoping that I will have a better record than I managed in Italy.

“We did poorly in those games! I didn’t like losing, which we did quite often unfortunately, and like this rivalry this weekend, they are not games that you want to lose. Ever.