Rio Ferdinand has urged Jude Bellingham to reject a move to Liverpool in favour of joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Erik ten Hag's side sit 10 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp's men as they head into Sunday's encounter at Anfield in the Premier League.
The distance between the two sides last season was a huge 34 points with Liverpool in second and United in fifth, but poor form the Reds this term has made Ferdinand believe Old Trafford is a better home for Bellingham.
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United have enjoyed a resurgence under Ten Hag this season after a number of big-money signings in the summer and they topped that off by winning the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool are looking at a huge summer rebuild with superstar Bellingham at the centre of their thoughts.
"If you put the two teams on a graph, Manchester United are going in one direction and Liverpool have stagnated," the ex-Red Devils defender told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I wouldn't say Liverpool are in decline, but other teams are catching them up and maybe going beyond them. If I'm a player, say Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice - two of the most in-demand English midfielders that may get moves this summer - and someone says, 'Manchester United or Liverpool, where are you going?', forget my Manchester United ties, I have to go with United right now.
"The way the team looks, the way the squad is shaping up, the way the managers are navigating their teams' fortunes and who I see being more successful in the upcoming future - I really would be sitting on the side of United."
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