Sir Alex Ferguson claimed today that he fully understood Wayne Rooney's self-confessed 'hatred' of Liverpool on the eve of tomorrow's clash between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

United striker Rooney can expect a torrent of abuse from the travelling supporters after admitting that he "grew up hating Liverpool and that hasn't changed".

The Liverpool-born forward's comments appeared on United's official website before being hastily withdrawn last night.

But as a boyhood Everton fan who progressed to play for the Goodison Park club before moving to United in August 2004, Ferguson admitted that Rooney's feelings are "understandable".

The United boss said: "Wayne has had plenty of stick over the years when he has played against Liverpool, so it is understandable because he also had loyalties to Everton as a kid.

"As Everton manager David Moyes has pointed out, the rivalry between them and Liverpool is now ferocious. And now that Wayne has come to United, he wants us to win, so I don't think it was anything out of the ordinary.

"The word wasn't used in the right way. Everyone uses the word 'hatred' because it's easy to say.

"Nobody uses the word 'dislike'. Hate is an easy word to use but it doesn't mean a lot really."

United can stretch their lead over Liverpool to 10 points with a game in hand by beating Rafael Benitez's men in the lunchtime clash. But despite United's commanding lead at the top of the Premier League, Ferguson insists that a Quintuple is unlikely to happen this term.

He said: "We never talk about the Quintuple here and I personally don't think that it can be done. All we are doing is taking each game as it comes.

"Our performance at Fulham last Saturday was as good as we have played for a while, so we are looking strong. Liverpool is always our biggest game, though, and I won't be holding anybody back tomorrow, that's for sure.

"It will be fierce and competitive with a wonderful atmosphere and I expect it to be a good game."

Meanwhile, Benitez is ready to walk away from Liverpool, possibly to another English club, unless stability is brought to Anfield by the end of the month. The Spaniard is yet to sign a new contract despite having little more than a year to run on his current deal. And he revealed today he will decide where his future lies within the next fortnight. Benitez has been at the centre of a tumultuous few years for Liverpool that have witnessed a battle for power between American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, constant speculation over the club's finances and moves to have him replaced as boss by Jurgen Klinsmann.

Amid that chaos the 48-year-old has struggled to turn the Reds into real title contenders, although Tuesday's 4-0 hammering of Real Madrid continued their impressive form in the Champions League.

He said: "I must decide on my future in the next two weeks and I want a medium or long-term project. I don't want to be working from day to day always hanging on the latest result. I will work where I can develop a project."

Benitez has consistently been linked with a return to Real, where he was once assistant manager and a youth team coach. But he said: "I have a contract with Liverpool and I'm only thinking of them. Real are a great club but I'm at another wonderful club."