Giggs: nothing like beating Reds

RYAN GIGGS may have collected more medals than any other player in Manchester United history but nothing eclipses the satisfaction of beating Liverpool.

Giggs did not follow Gary Neville's lead in haring down to the visiting corner when Rio Ferdinand nodded home his last-gasp winner at Old Trafford on Sunday but the elation was obvious.

Cardiff-born, a boyhood United fan and a player at the club since his early teens, Giggs knows exactly what it means to send the Merseysiders back off to Anfield with their tails between their legs. And while he may now be a veteran of an incredible 29 spats between the north-west giants, the thrill of victory is just as intense.

"It doesn't matter how the teams are doing, it is always the biggest game of the season and always the one you look forward to the most," said Giggs.

"When you look at the history, the rivalry, the 30 or so miles separating the two teams, it has always been that way. It just so happens this season we are next to each other in the league, but it doesn't really make any difference. It is massive to get one over on your biggest rivals and you could see just what it meant when the fans and players celebrated at the end."

The FA will wait for the further observations of referee Mike Riley and the Greater Manchester Police before deciding whether to launch any action against Neville.

Opinion on the United skipper's wild celebrations is divided. Some, like Liverpool

defender Jamie Carragher, feel Neville "crossed the line" of acceptability, others, such as PFA deputy chief executive Mick McGuire, say he did nothing more than offer an indication of his passion for the Red Devils' cause.

Ferdinand certainly has good reason to complain at Neville because the furore over his fellow defender's celebrations took the headlines off his third goal in five home games and his first at the Stretford End.

After taking 140 games to get off the mark, the £29.1 million (€42.3m) former Leeds man has become prolific, prompted by the grumblings not just of his manager, but the fans he meets walking down the road.

"The manager has been getting on my case and so have some of the fans when they have been talking to me in the street," smiled Ferdinand.

"It is hard to put into words your feelings when the ball goes in the net. There is a great rivalry between the teams and a lot of history and to score the goal which turned out to be the winner is what dreams are made of. The best thing of all was to score at the Stretford End."