I know from my Liverpool days that if you’re the top dogs and you slip, everyone has a go. It comes with the territory.

Manchester United have dominated the game for the past 10 years but this period is a big, big tester for them.

Nine points behind Arsenal in the Premiership and out of the Champions League, it is a real test for the players.

It’s no coincidence in my view that United under-perform when Roy Keane doesn’t play. He is a major part of them, he really is. He is the catalyst that keeps them going. He makes everything tick and is certainly missed when he doesn’t play for United.

Sir Alex Ferguson is probably looking for the next Roy Keane but where are these type of players now? There aren’t many about, the ones that are cost millions so you have to try and bring them through the youth set-up if you can.

At Liverpool, they used to compare it to a conveyor belt, they were always trying to find players who would fit into the system so in 12 months time they could fill the boots of a current first-team player.

It is like cloning and Sir Alex will be thinking ‘Can he fit Beckham’s shoes? Can he fit Roy Keane’s shoes in time?

United will be bitterly disappointed by going out of Europe, like we were at Liverpool you never think about finishing second.

To remain at the very top, you need a self-belief and pride that you take onto the pitch every single time you walk out.

Success raises the bar of expectation and Arsenal are going to find that out. There were thousands, even millions of people, United went out – that comes with the territory.

I hasten to add I wasn’t one of them because I’m not a natural follower of underdogs. I like the favourites and best teams to win because they usually deserve to. But the neutrals of this world like an underdog. That makes it harder to perform, but United have to be single-minded and go out and do it.

You look at the way Arsenal are playing, they look unbeatable and United must be looking over their shoulders and thinking any slip-ups we make, Arsenal are on our tail.

So there is pressure for United, but they have a good manager, very good players and a good structure so it’s not a case of writing them off.

I’m sure people will remember we lost the league on the last day of the season to Arsenal in 1989. We’d had a lot to contend with that year and didn’t believe they were better than us so we rolled our sleeves up and won the championship the next year.

This Arsenal side that United have to compete with is much better though. George Graham built his team on defence, this side is is more enterprising and more adventurous by a long way; it is built on skill, pace and craft – they have the right blend defensively and attacking wise.

As I said before, United face a real test to stay on top.

Merseyside management mafia

I’m up against another Liverpudlian boss on Saturday, Mike Newell, who is doing a great job at Luton Town.

There’s also Paul Jewell, Dave Jones, Jan Molby – A Liverpudlian on the Danish side of the city. John Aldridge was manager at Tranmere.

There are quite a few Mersey managers and they are all good people. I would imagine it is because Merseyside is such a football area, it’s in your blood. You try to keep playing as long as you can. If you can’t play, then coach, then manage – it is a process for all of us.

I have spoken to Mike on a number of occasions and he has been to a few of our games. He has a good footballing brain and can spot a good player from a bad one, and how they would fit into his style of play.

Mick Harford is there at No.2 – my old room-mate from England B international days. Mick has this scary reputation, and he can be, but he is also a kind, funny man if you get to know him.

He has a dry sense of humour and if you picked up the phone to ask for help, he would do. He also has the respect of the players which is why Joe Kinnear wanted to take him to Nottingham Forest.

We’ve got two league games before our LDV Vans Trophy final but there won’t be any slacking from my players. First, anyone not performing doesn’t get picked for Cardiff. Secondly, if you compete at 80 or 90 per cent, you tend to find you pick up injuries more easily than if you are at 100 per cent.