New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hopes he can maintain his friendship with Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson.
At the end of last season, the Manchester United coach hailed the Cottagers’ progress to the Europa League final as one of the greatest ever achievements by a British club.
But Hodgson’s arrival at Anfield could be the end of a beautiful friendship.
The bitter rivalry between the two giants was stoked up during Rafa Benitez’s reign, when Rafa and Ferguson regularly traded verbal blows.
“I know Sir Alex is not really a Liverpool man,” said Hodgson, “so I’m a bit concerned about my excellent relationship with him.
“I sincerely hope he forgives me for moving north and hopefully we can have a glass of wine together, maybe in secret.
“I hope that’s how he is going to see it – but he is one of the people I intend to ring to find out.
“I rang the Fulham chairman (Mohamed Al Fayed). That was one phone call I had to get out of the way. Alex might be the next one.”