Robbie Fowler says Liverpool Legends' clash with Manchester United on Thursday will stir up a desire for victory that has been drummed into him from an early age.

The former Reds No.9 will line up alongside the likes of Vladimir Smicer, Jason McAteer and Dietmar Hamann at the Friends Arena in Stockholm as they take on a team of former Old Trafford heroes in a fixture that will raise funds for both clubs' respective Foundations.

Fowler often helped Liverpool get one over on their north-west rivals during his Anfield career, scoring six times against them in total while wearing the famous red.

And he believes his status as a product of the club's Academy means means he knows better than most how important these games are - even if the latest resumption of hostilities is billed as a 'friendly'.

"It's massive, certainly from a playing point of view," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"You admire them for what they've achieved and respect them, but we as Liverpool, we think we're better.

"Manchester United probably do the same, they've probably got players saying the same things that I'm saying. 

"We've [both] got that pride in ourselves where we don't want to let ourselves down but the rivalry will always be there and I think that's good for the game. 

"No matter how old you are; I think you could go up to the Academy on a Saturday morning and Liverpool are playing Manchester United and the tackles are getting thrown in. 

"It's drummed into you from an early age, you've got to beat the likes of Manchester United, you've got to beat Everton. And that stays with you."

Fowler also insisted that the warm atmosphere among former players from both sides will not transfer to the pitch.

"I can't wait. [The last game] was great, [against] Real Madrid, but now we're playing against the enemy!" he added.

"As much as we speak [with] and see a lot of the lads when you [retire] and you play golf and whatnot, when you put your football boots on, you can guarantee the tackles will be flying in.

"They'll want to win as much as we do, it'll be brilliant. 

"It's giving us something that we haven't had for many years, that pride and the adrenaline of getting out on a football pitch and playing against old rivals. I can't wait."

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