NOT HAPPY: Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t too happy with the team’s performance on Sunday. Photo Sky Sports

Paul Kennedy

There were many great moments in Liverpool's destruction of Manchester United on Sunday that made me smile.

But the one I’ll cherish the most came in the minutes that followed Mohammed Salah scoring his third, and Liverpool’s fifth, goal of the game.

The camera panned the crowd and found an ashen-faced Sir Alex Ferguson sat in the director’s box shaking his head in, what I can only assume, was a combination of incandescent rage and sheer disbelief.

Seconds later the camera then found Liverpool’s Sir Kenny Dalglish sat nearby with a smile on his face as wide as the gulf in class between the two teams on the pitch.

These two Knights of the Realm are both legends, loved and adored by their own supporters for their loyalty and service to their respective clubs.

You will find stands at both Liverpool’s Anfield stadium and United’s Old Trafford named in their honour.

Kenny for what he did for Liverpool as a player, and Alex for his contributions as Manchester United manager.

And yes, while I fully accept Dalglish brilliantly led Liverpool to three League titles, two FA Cups and one League Cup during two spells as manager, his record as Liverpool boss is completely eclipsed by the achievements of Ferguson.

During his 26 years with Manchester United he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.  

I love Sir Alex Ferguson, which is not something you will hear many Liverpool fans say out loud. For me he is the greatest football manager the world has ever seen.

I honestly don’t think there will ever be anyone as good.

Sure, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel are three remarkable leaders for Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea right now, but let’s face facts, none of them will still be manager of their respective clubs in the year 2041.

Many years ago when I covered Premier League football games as a (much) younger reporter, I was blessed to have been at numerous post-match press conferences with Sir Alex.

He was intimidating for sure, but carried himself in such a way that I genuinely felt I was in the presence of greatness.  

That said, I do have a sneaky suspicion that Sir Alex may be part of the problem at Manchester United right now.

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer walks through the corridors of Old Trafford I’ve no doubt he is treated with the utmost respect by everyone there.

Sir Alex on the other hand probably has people throw themselves to the ground akin to Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar’s reaction when meeting Alice Cooper in the movie Wayne’s World.

Pundits and those in the know have repeatedly talked this week about how much of a nice guy Ole is.

And while the debate rages on as to whether or not he should be given more time as United manager, one thing for sure is whoever does get the job if he does get fired, will still be living in the shadow of sheer greatness.

So maybe it’s time for Sir Alex to retire, again. Ole still probably calls him ‘boss’ when he meets him, and whoever the new manager is in the future, needs to be his own man.

David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all tried and failed before Ole took over. But for those three the wounds caused by the departure of Sir Alex were still very fresh when they were in the job.

Whenever United’s hierarchy do decide it’s time for change, maybe someone should have a quiet word in the ear of Sir Alex Ferguson and tell him in the nicest possible way to stay at home when the match is on.