James Milner has admitted he has always disliked Manchester United, with the feeling being bred in him due to growing up a Leeds United fan.
The England international midfielder will lock horns with Manchester United on Sunday in a Liverpool shirt; Milner is likely to be deployed at left-back, with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp having switched the number 7 to that position this season.
He will not want for motivation when it comes to dealing a blow to a club he genuinely dislikes, though Milner does insist he will keep his emotions in check when on the pitch at Old Trafford.
"I was brought up in Leeds as a Leeds fan and you're brought up not to like the red half of Manchester, that's the way it is", Milner told Liverpool's official site.
"I'm sure they feel the same about me!" the former Manchester City star continued.
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"It's just part of being a Leeds fan and then playing for the clubs I have as well, it's similar.
"It's important then that you don't think like a fan when you're on the field, obviously.
"[Of course you show] that passion and you're desperate to win, but that's when you can get caught up in the emotion and get sent off or lose your head", Milner explained.
"You fall into a player's mentality, but you still have that passion to want to go and win the game."
Milner's Liverpool head into the fixture at Old Trafford sitting five points better off than Manchester United and knowing taking all three points would swell the gap to a whopping eight points.
Meanwhile, his beloved Leeds are also enjoying a strong season, sitting third in the Championship, and are increasingly being tipped to seal a return to the Premier League.
