T\venty-five years after taking over at Manchester United with the goal of knocking Liverpool "off their perch", Sir Alex Ferguson's long-held dream is likely to become reality on Saturday.

After a magnificent performance at Old Trafford last weekend to dispose of Chelsea, United need only a draw at Blackburn to secure a record 19th title and overtake Liverpool as the most successful club in English history.

In a twist that will delight United fans, the Red Devils can clinch the title on the very day that cross-town rivals Manchester City are hoping to end their 35-year trophy drought in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

United's likely coronation at Ewood Park will come after a season where Ferguson's men have faced persistent and unflattering comparisons with some of the Scot's more celebrated Championship-winning teams.

But Ryan Giggs, the veteran midfielder who is the only player to have been a member of all 11 of United's Championship wins under Ferguson to date, is unfazed by the criticism.

"To be honest, it really doesn't bother us," Giggs said. "We all concede that, in the first half of the season, we were not playing brilliantly but we were getting results.

"The second half of the season, after Christmas, we've been brilliant. The performances have been brilliant and so have the results.

"We've played some great stuff in both the European games and in the league so we don't really care what people say. We know the quality in the dressing room and so does the manager."

Statistically at least, United's current side stacks up favourably against more celebrated Ferguson teams — four points from their final two matches would give United a better points tally than the treble-winning squad of!999.

Ferguson meanwhile has ruled out any possibility of his players falling at the final hurdle.

"Knowing the players they won't muck it up. They'll get their point," Ferguson said. "I would be surprised if we didn't win it now.

"We only need one point from the last two games and the last game is at home.”