Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville reveals hardest thing about playing for Man Utd v Liverpool

Neville was given a £10,000 fine in 2006 for running in front of Liverpool fans to celebrate a late United winner at Old Trafford.

The incident fuelled an already hate-filled relationship with the Anfield crowd - and even now he is barracked on his return to Merseyside.

Neville will be back at Anfield this weekend in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports when Liverpool and United face off.

And ahead of the game, the Red Devils legend has revealed his struggle at keeping himself together in one of the biggest games of the season.

Gary Neville said: "In the first two or three years it was hard.

"The first time I went to Anfield I remember coming out and thinking 'phwoar, this is an unbelievable atmosphere this'.

"I found it difficult and emotionally draining. For three. four or five years I found it difficult. Emotionally it meant too much to me.

"Before one game I remember Sir Alex Ferguson saying 'what's the worst thing that could happen today?'

"We'd lose. And he said 'well you're going to go home aren't you. What are you going to do?'

"I said I'd try and eat. He said 'that's the worst thing that could happen, you'll lose and you'll go home and have a Chinese'.

"He said 'just relax and don't let yourself down'."

Liverpool go into the game already seven points behind Jose Mourinho's Manchester United.