Alex Ferguson is glad he had retired by the time Liverpool began flourishing under Jurgen Klopp.
The Scot stepped down from the Old Trafford hot-seat in May 2013 after delivering a 20th league title for Manchester United.
Klopp was appointed as Liverpool boss just over two-years later and has since transformed them into a dominant force in English football.
Like Ferguson had done at United, the German ended a long title drought at Anfield after first delivering European success.
On Friday night, the 79-year old Ferguson took part in Sport United Against Dementia, an online event also featuring Klopp, Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish and England boss Gareth Southgate.
Ferguson: "Thank goodness I've retired when I see Liverpool's performances in the past two years. They have been phenomenal." #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) January 15, 2021
Liverpool and United come face to face again on Sunday afternoon, with the Manchester side enjoying a moment of resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But Ferguson is relieved it's the Norwegian - and not himself - in the Anfield dugout this weekend.
"United against Liverpool, it is the game of the season – the most successful sides in the country," he said.
"Thank goodness I’ve retired, because when I see Liverpool’s performances over the last two seasons – they have been phenomenal."
Liverpool go into Sunday's game three-points adrift of United, and could be 3rd in the table by kick-off if Leicester beat Southampton on Saturday night.
Ferguson also clarified his reasoning for not signing Jordan Henderson from Sunderland.
Despite a rocky start to his Anfield career, the midfielder has become a pillar of Klopp's regime, captaining them to Champions League and Premier League glory.
Ferguson infamously claimed Henderson's gait could cause him problems later in his career.
"There was criticism from Brendan Rodgers about my assessment of Jordan," Ferguson said on Friday night.
"The actual story was we were ready to make a bid for him at Sunderland.
"I spoke to [then Sunderland boss] Steve Bruce. Our scouting/medical department said they weren’t happy with his running style.
"They said he could be the type to get injuries. I had to make sure players would always be available.
"But we loved Jordan as a player. He has proved that now. All the stories I hear about him tell me that I missed out on a really good person."
