Fergie: I am not surprised by Liverpool's struggles - they overachieved last season

Sir Alex Ferguson has taunted Liverpool by claiming they over-achieved by finishing runners-up in the Premier League last season.

Manchester United and Liverpool meet tomorrow lunchtime, with Ferguson’s men hunting down a record 19th title, while Rafa Benitez’s side are scrambling for points just to finish fourth.

And Fergie compounded Liverpool’s miserable campaign by saying they had no chance of repeating last season’s heroics, when they finished just four points behind United.

“I thought it was an exceptional season for them,” said Fergie.

“I thought it would be difficult to achieve that again. That was just my opinion.”

Asked if Liverpool had over-achieved last season, Fergie said: “Yes. I think they did very well.

“When they got that run going they showed form and consistency – that helps.

“Their challenge last year was obviously championship-winning form, but sometimes you peak with a particular team and it is sometimes difficult to do again.

“I think everyone expected Liverpool to be better, but they haven’t been, and the challenge for them, along with a few others, is to get fourth spot.

“We can all say with some 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 almost every week.”

Benitez has claimed the gap between United and Liverpool – currently 15 points – would be smaller had his star striker Fernando Torres been fit for the entire campaign.

Fergie sympathised with Benitez over losing Torres for large parts of the season, but pointed out that United had suffered the loss of similarly important players of their own.

And the United boss suggested Liverpool’s strength of depth in terms of their squad was the real reason for the huge gulf in points between the two clubs.

“Torres is a top player and when you don’t have top players, you don’t get top results,” said Fergie.

“But we had a time this season when all our defenders were injured.

“We went to Wolfsburg and Fulham with no defenders.

“We had midfielders playing in defence and when that happens what do you expect? What do you expect to get?

“That was a fragile moment for our club this season. Our defence was changing every game.

“You don’t expect your best results when you haven’t got your best players.

That applies to every team, not just Liverpool.

“We were lucky because we’ve had quite a few defenders to help out.

“Gary Neville came back, as did Wes Brown and the Da Silva twins. So our squad helped.”

Fergie also told Owen Hargreaves to forget any notion of going to the World Cup with England this summer.

Hargreaves made his long-awaited comeback for United reserves on Thursday after 18 months out following surgery on both knees.

The midfielder has talked of making a late dash into Fabio Capello’s 23-man squad for South Africa this summer, but Fergie reacted angrily to the suggestion.

“I think we deserve some service, right?” said Fergie. “He needs to get his service in.

“I think we deserve some service, Christ.

“There’s nothing wrong with talking about World Cups.

“But he should be concentrating on United – exactly right. And he’ll do that.”