Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees with Erik ten Hag on Man United plan after Liverpool and Man City era

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new co-owner of theManchester United, is setting out his big plans. Mirroring Sir Alex Ferguson's famous words, he plans to knock "noisy neighbours" Liverpool and Manchester City "off their perch" within three years.

At 71, Ratcliffe has taken a 27.7 per cent hold in the club, which gives control of football operations to his company, Ineos. His aim? To compete with City and Liverpool for trophies. But he asks fans for patience, saying that it will take two or three seasons for Ineos to get the team where they want them.

The rousing pledge echoes the one made by Ferguson in 2002, when said the "greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f*****g perch", while dubbing City as the 'noisy neighbours'.

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez injuries explained by Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool ring changes

Liverpool wonderkid waiting in wings as Jurgen Klopp solves injury crisis

After his takeover at Old Trafford was officially completed, Ratcliffe has turned his attention to competing with Liverpool. Since United last won the Premier League, Liverpool have won their first title and lifted the Champions League trophy, they have also been competing alongside Man City for the title in the years since.

"We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour and the other neighbour (Liverpool). They are the enemy at the end of the day," noted Ratcliffe.

"There is nothing I would like better than to knock both of them off their perch. Equally, we are the three great northern clubs who are very close to one another."

"They have been in a good place for a while and there are things we can learn from both of them. They have sensible organisations, great people within the organisations, a good, driven and elite