Liverpool fans may be hoping to finally end their 18-year wait for a league title, but according to a legendary former captain, they should be setting their sights a little lower.

Eight-time championship winner Phil Neal, would of course dearly love to see the Reds break Manchester United's stranglehold on the Premier League, however he feels that Rafa Benitez's team should be looking at breaking into the top three rather than finishing top of the pile.

Neal, part of the Liverpool Legends XI side who will begin their tour of Northern Ireland this weekend at Bangor, was a major cog in that incredible Liverpool machine of the late 70s and early 80s who set the standard for footballing dominance both at home and in Europe.

The Anfield aces raised the bar, but up the road in Manchester, the Red Devils are coming close to knocking it off.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men have take their title tally to 17 – now incredibly just one off Liverpool's record.

No-one could have envisaged that in April 1990, when Alan Hansen lifted the old First Division crown for the Merseysiders, it would be their last for quite some time.

At the same token, few would have predicted their record would be broken so quickly.

Back then United, who hadn't been champions for 26 years, were on eight, Arsenal had notched up

their ninth the season before; and the thought of Chelsea winning the league was laughable – the only time they had previously done so was in 1955!

How times have changed.

Liverpool fans are now getting desperate – they demand the Premier League crown come to Anfield, quickly.

But according to Neal, they'd be best trying to force their way up one place rather than three.

“It's obviously going to be the usual suspects for the title – I can't see anyone breaking into the top four,” said Neal, who on top of his eight league titles pocketed an amazing four European Cups as well.

“Arsenal need to make a step up but they've got a young team and Chelsea's situation has changed with the new manager (Filipe Scolari) coming in so that will make things more interesting.

“As for my own team – I think they have to be aiming to make a step up into third. It will be very difficult to go from fourth to first

in one season and so they have to be looking at moving up one or maybe two places.

“They are moving in the right direction, I am sure of that but I am not so sure that they have a squad capable of knocking Manchester United off the top just yet.

Neal added: “Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) for me is the new Bob Paisley. He's canny, he's got staying power, tactically superb and he sends his team out to entertain which is what football is all about.

“Now it is up to the others to stop him. It's up to Rafa Benitez to come up with something that is going to be enough to bring them down. His record against United hasn't been great in the four years that he has been in charge and that is one thing that he will definitely have to improve on.”

United may well be close to equalling that magical 18, but Neal has warned Liverpool's current generation of stars not to become hung up on that fact.

“These players can't do anything about the past,” he said. “They can't change the fact that we were a success in the past or that United have almost caught up. They can dictate the future though.

“It's up to Carra (Jamie Carragher) and Gerrard to drive Liverpool forward, but to do it for themselves and the team and the fans, not just because Manchester United are breathing down their necks.”

Neal will renew his own rivalry with United in the Legends XI tour, which culminates in the Belfast Cup on July 26 where teams of old favourites from Liv

erpool, Manchester United, Glentoran and Linfield will battle it out at the Oval.

“It's great to take part in these tours and it reminds me of the olds days when we used to go on pre-season tours all across Europe,” he said.

“It's nice to meet up with the boys from the old days and the United boys too and have a bit of banter which is something that every player misses when they retire.

“I am sure it is going to be a great tour and I know everyone is really looking forward to it.”