Fergie insists he's up for the Cup

Sir Alex Ferguson will take nothing for granted ahead of Manchester United's blockbuster FA Cup tie with Liverpool on Sunday.

Ferguson has an excellent record in the world's oldest cup competition, winning the trophy on five occasions.

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However, last season brought one of his least favourite moments as United were dumped out in the third round for the first time since he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986.

Even worse, defeat came at Old Trafford, at the hands of a Leeds side who were trying to gain promotion out of League One.

So, with the standard of opposition far higher, and the rivalry just as intense, Ferguson has no intention of making life easy for the Merseyside giants.

"It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs," Ferguson told Inside United.

"In hindsight I could have picked a stronger team. I won't be making that mistake this time."

Having left Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar out of his starting line-up to face Stoke, Ferguson has experienced options at his disposal.

He also has a former Liverpool player in Michael Owen, who was on target for the Reds when they last travelled to Old Trafford for an FA Cup tie in 1999.

That game was remarkable for the fact Liverpool led for 85 minutes, yet contrived to lose thanks to late goals from Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"I don't forget Michael Owen's goal," recalled Ferguson.

"It was a header and Gary Neville was caught napping at the back post. But we battered them after that."

United famously went on to beat Newcastle in the final, completing the second leg of their momentous Treble.

And though they have been to three finals since, they have won just one, when they beat Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in 2004.

It is a statistic Ferguson feels needs to be put right.

"It is an important trophy so there is a strong desire to get our hands on it," said the United boss.

"We haven't won it since 2004, or been to Wembley in the final since we lost to Chelsea in 2007.

"So we definitely want to get back there. And we want to win it."