Wayne Rooney has declared that games against Liverpool are still the biggest on Manchester United's fixture list every season.

United are preparing to face local rivals Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, in the first derby without Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm for 26 years.

Rooney believes that despite City's emergence as a genuine title rival in recent years, clashes with the Reds are still more important.

He told The Guardian: "They are all big games. Obviously United-Liverpool is a massive game over the years.

"City have had their success recently but I would probably say that United-Liverpool is still the biggest game."

The 27-year-old has found form over the past week, scoring three times in his last two starts at Old Trafford.