Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists they were the better team after being thrashed 4-1 at home by Liverpool.

"It is a hard one to take because I felt we were the better team," he said.

"That is not reflected in the scoreline and quite rightly, when you win 4-1 you get all the plaudits. I can't deny that."

Fergie added: "We have lost a game. We need to respond and that is what we will do.

"If the league started now and we had a four-point start I would take it."