FERGIE LADS KNOCK KOP ‘OFF PERCH’

IT took Sir Alex Ferguson nearly 25 years to make good his threat to knock Liverpool “off their f***ing perch”.

Yet, his first act, after making Manchester United the champions of England for the 19th time, was to claim he hadn’t even said it.

A 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park on the penultimate weekend of the season was enough for United to secure the Premier League trophy.

And Ferguson could not resist a swipe at the club they had usurped.

“That thing about knocking Liverpool off their perch,” he said. “I don’t think I actually said it.

“It’s not so much about passing Liverpool. It’s more important that United are the best team in the country in terms of winning titles.”

In December, he became United’s longest-serving manager, surpassing Sir Matt Busby’s reign of 24 years, one month and 13 days.

And in February, a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford saw United equal the club-record of 29 unbeaten league matches.

They also reached the Champions League final – before succumbing 3-1 at Wembley to Barcelona.

And they were also beaten at Wembley by rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals, as the noisy neighbours took revenge for Wayne Rooney’s spectacular Premier League volleyed winner (above) earlier in the season.

But overtaking Liverpool was always the primary motivation. Gary Neville said: “To win 19 was special – it went past Liverpool’s record.”