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Louis van Gaal is cooking up a fiery United dish for Liverpool to please the Reds' chef and help the Old Trafford boss in the pursuit of his dream to climbing into City and Chelsea’s places in the Premier League.

The first team’s cook is a big United fan and is desperate to beat the bitter rivals from Merseyside and Van Gaal has already had the importance of success against tomorrow’s opponents from Anfield spelt out to him months ago soon after joining United.

During the club’s pre-season tour of America the Reds crossed swords with Liverpool in the final of the International Champions Cup in Miami, which United won, and the Old Trafford chef had informed the Dutch newcomer that the clash was no friendly.

“On the tour of the United States, all the members of my staff were saying that to me," he said.

"We have a cook Mike (Donnelly) and when I didn’t know about anything to do with United and rival clubs he shall say it! He is a big Manchester United fan and I hear immediately from him.”

Ryan Giggs has also issued the lowdown on the intense United against Liverpool rivalry in front of an attentive Reds dressing room ahead of the showdown to spell out the history and meaning of the battle to Van Gaal and his new Gaalacticos facing their first showdown with Brendan Rodgers’ side.

“As an assistant manager I have Ryan Giggs and he presented the analysis of Liverpool and he did it in a marvellous way. I’m very pleased,” said Louis.

“It was everything that has been said about this match. I cannot tell all he said but I can assure you that it was marvellous.”

In the summer of 2012 Liverpool made contact with Van Gaal over the prospect of becoming the new Anfield manager before they chose the then Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers to replace sacked legend Kenny Dalglish.

Van Gaal diplomatically decided not to expand on the episode but made it plain his job is to defeat the Scousers.

“It is better not to speak about Liverpool now and about that matter,” he said.

“You have to speak about now and the present. The present is I have to beat Liverpool as a manager of Manchester United.”

Before the match in the USA in August, Rodgers had warned United’s new boss that he would find life in England tougher than anywhere else.

But van Gaal says he didn’t need the advice but has some sympathy with the Liverpool manager following their slump.

“I thought it also,” said Louis. “The Premier League is not so easy and I knew it in advance. Now I also have the experiences of it because every game we have to play against clubs at the bottom they are very difficult to beat.

“He (Rodgers) said at that moment the truth and I have experienced that now also. The big difference between the leagues and where I have worked before is the high rhythm of the game. I think also every club has a player who can decide the match and that’s not so like in Germany or in Spain.

“The last matches of Liverpool they were a little bit unlucky. You have to survive that as a manager. We have managed our last five matches despite our list of injuries and I’m pleased by that. You have to give as a manager a lot to credit to the players because it is not so easy.

“I still think Liverpool can fight for the top four places and still I have belief in that team because they have fantastic players but they also have a lot of injuries which is not so easy to manage.”

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United clawed their way into the top three in the Premier League with the victory at Saints on Monday and the deficit in the title race has been reduced to eight points on Chelsea and five behind City.

But Van Gaal still believes winning the crown will be a tough ask.

“We now have a better possibility but I don’t think Chelsea shall lose so much,” he said.

“I dream for Manchester City’s place or Chelsea’s place. But now we have to live match for match and that is the most important thing. We have to beat Liverpool, which is more important than thinking about City or Chelsea.”

Meanwhile, City unveiled their £200m state-of-the-art training facilities this week in the shadow of the Etihad.

United midfield legend Paul Scholes has expressed his worry that the Blues have “upped the stakes” with their Academy and training complex.

But Van Gaal is not sharing Scholes’ fears and says he is more than content with United’s Carrington centre.

“The building and accommodation is not so important. The philosophy and staff are - and then of course you have to work with the talents,” he said.

“I don’t have time to compare talents and staff with each other (City). But when I see what we have I know I am very happy. Now I am more occupied with the first team and that’s more than difficult enough without the youth education.”