ALEX FERGUSON has declared that Manchester City have overtaken Liverpool as Manchester United’s most important rivals. United and City clash in the 162nd Manchester derby on Monday in a match that is being billed as the title decider and the United manager has said that matches with their neighbours will now be of greater significance than those against the Merseysiders.

Ferguson said: “We have to get used to playing City in important games, they are not going away. The financial support they have means we will be playing them in a lot of big games. Cup finals maybe, semi-finals – we have already done that last season [in the FA Cup] – and had an important Cup tie this season.

“It’s there, if we are going to be contesting for league titles regularly, and we will be doing, it will become just as important as the Liverpool game. Maybe not in terms of the emotional part because the Liverpool-United games are emotional, but certainly in importance – probably at this moment it supersedes the Liverpool games in the sense that they are our direct opponents now.

“City are without question up against us to win titles and that is what I focus on, I only focus on the team that can actually affect our progress in terms of winning.”

On Sunday United allowed a two-goal lead to slip as they drew 4-4 with Everton at Old Trafford, a result that means they lead City by three points. City, however, have a superior goal difference of six.

Now, with only three games remaining, Ferguson was asked if he is thriving on the tension. “I am a confirmed masochist, I joined about 26 years ago,” he joked. “I do not know if you thrive on it, I can’t even say I can look forward to it but I am up for it, I am prepared for it and I think my players will be prepared for it, so hopefully we will be okay.

“I suppose when the fixtures came out at the beginning of the season all roads pointed to this game. It was inevitable maybe. But we are where we are and it doesn’t matter what has happened before – it really is all down to this game. It will be a fantastic atmosphere and I hope it lives up to the billing.

“I don’t know how many countries will be watching it but hopefully it is a very good game. We are also smarting from throwing that game away last week [against Everton] but in the context of our history we almost expected it, we make it hard for ourselves. Our poor supporters have been subjected to that drama for years and years. God knows what they are like just now but hopefully we will make amends on Monday. It’s not a cup final, there are three games still, it is an important game. I think it could decide the title.”

In the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in October United were humiliated 6-1 before they gained some revenge by knocking City out of the FA Cup in January 3-2. Ferguson’s men had also previously beaten City 3-2 in August’s Community Shield but the Scot does not believe these results can influence Monday’s game.

“It doesn’t matter now, whatever is in the past is in the past, it is all down to Monday,” he said.