Man Utd too big to go as long without a title as Liverpool, says Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United are "too big and too good" to endure a run without a league title as long as Liverpool's 26-year drought.

The Red Devils have struggled to compete at the top of the table since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, with Van Gaal coming in for criticism after a difficult December saw his side plummet to sixth despite significant investment in players.

But when asked about the possibility of United suffering a barren spell like Liverpool's ahead of Sunday's showdown between the two rivals, the 64-year-old insisted that the club was simply going through a period of transition.

"The club is too big, too good and organised [for such a run]," Van Gaal told reporters. "We also have a great infrastructure and we are improving that every year.

"You have to be in the top three at the end of the season, not at this moment. It’s better to be first, I agree with that, but we are still, in the two years I have been here, in transition, and that’s maybe also the reason.

"As you say, when it happens to Liverpool it can happen to United, but I cannot imagine that because we are in transition and we are going in the right way.

"Maybe it shall take a longer time, but I cannot imagine it will be the same for Manchester United.

"Of course, you can still say we have underperformed, because Manchester United has to be in the first three in the Premier League, and the same thing counts for Liverpool I think."

Wayne Rooney struck twice in Tuesday's 3-3 draw at Newcastle United to keep the Red Devils within nine points of leaders Arsenal and Van Gaal now wants him to end a long run of his own at Anfield.

"It makes it more easy for me when he scores because I have put all my money on Wayne as a striker," the Dutchman added.

"But last year I remember that Wayne never scored once at Liverpool in 10 years. So he has to break that record, then I am very pleased.”