Liverpool are favorites against Man Utd, but two stars can make the difference

MONEY can’t buy me love, as The Beatles sang – but in football there is something else that all the money in the world will never guarantee.

You can throw as much of it around as you want, sign the biggest names and build a team of superstars.

But no matter how many millions are spent, no matter what statistics these people who study laptops all day produce, there is one thing you can never put a price on: team spirit.

And believe me, at this stage of the season, when every match resembles a cup final, that can make the difference between memorable and misery.

You definitely need decent players. That’s obvious and I always say no manager will ever win anything without them.

But sometimes you get two teams that are virtually impossible to split – and the smallest thing has the biggest impact.

A time when it is no longer just about skills and talent, but about spirit and togetherness. You really can’t underestimate how important that is.

The best I’ve had in my career was in 2002-03 when Portsmouth got promoted to the Premier League.

We had a fantastic team, but not just on the field. It was a very close unit, such a great bunch of guys, and that was crucial.

But as important as it is to feel like we’re all in it together, it’s not nearly as common as you might think.

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But I’ll tell you what… I saw plenty of it at Wembley a few weeks ago when Liverpool won the League Cup with that bunch of kids.

It was certainly a great performance on the pitch, with so many injured and so many youngsters at the final whistle.

But what really impressed me was the reaction of everyone who wasn’t playing, when the Reds scored and at the end.

You had people like Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold, lots of them, jumping out of their seats and running down to celebrate. It was just a great example of team spirit.

That may sound obvious to people, but trust me, it’s not. Usually those who don’t get picked, get injured or whatever just sit there and don’t really feel it.

Well, they have no problem with that at Anfield and that day at Wembley told me so much about what Jurgen Klopp has in his hands.

It’s also why I think they will almost top it at Old Trafford this afternoon as they try to keep that dream of a four-trophy clean sweep alive.

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When they first started talking about how good it would be to win big in Klopp’s last season, I have to admit I laughed at first.

To be honest, I didn’t think they had a chance.

But they keep getting results, game after game, and I have to say they were fantastic in the second half against Manchester City last week.

I know it was a 1-1 draw, but the effort they put in to turn the tide, the way they fought for each other, means you wouldn’t write them off for anything anymore.

They need that spirit this afternoon too, because as important as this FA Cup quarter-final is for Liverpool, you could say it is even more important for Manchester United.

There’s no hiding the fact that it’s been a disastrous season for them and this is their last chance to make the most of it… against their most hated rivals, in front of their own supporters.

As always with United, it depends on which side turns up. On their day they can mix it with the best and if Rasmus Hojlund and Harry Maguire are fit it will make a huge difference.

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There will be a great atmosphere, they will love being the underdog at home – that’s when they are really dangerous.

I can see this being very, very tight and to be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if it went all the way to penalties.

That’s when it all comes down to holding your nerve and togetherness… and no one has more of the latter than Liverpool.