SIR Alex Ferguson claims equalling Liverpool’s record of league championship wins was the last thing on his mind when he joined Manchester United in 1986.

The Merseyside giants had finished top on 18 occasions before United managed their first triumph under Ferguson in 1993.

At the time, it seemed like a seminal moment in itself. Little could Ferguson have imagined that 16 years later he would stand on the brink of matching the Anfield outfit, who he famously told he would ‘‘knock off their perch’’ when he first came south from Aberdeen.

United will not knock Liverpool off their perch by getting the point against Arsenal today that would see them collect an 11th Premier League.

However, it will be enough to let them shuffle up alongside, knowing one more big shove could tumble Rafael Benitez’s men off altogether.

‘‘I never even thought about moving level with Liverpool,’’ said Ferguson.

‘‘My first intention was to win one and break the stranglehold Liverpool had on the title.

‘‘You don’t think about how it would open the door in terms of what we see now. The big challenge was that first one.’’ Ironically it took Arsenal’s assistance to prise away Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic game.

In winning titles under George Graham in 1989 and 1991, the Gunners showed United the correct path to follow.

They could not quite make it in 1992. But 12 months later began an era of unparalleled success, and it has taken just 17 seasons to complete 11 championship wins, compared with the 18 Liverpool managed it in from 1973.

‘‘We were a long way behind in terms of titles won,’’ acknowledged Ferguson.

‘‘But we were helped by Arsenal winning it a couple of times. That changed the picture a little bit.’’ Ironically, United are venturing into new territory today.

Of those last 11 successes, only one was completed in front of their own fans at Old Trafford.

And in 1999 it was very much a do-or-die encounter with Tottenham, in which they trailed before David Beckham and Andy Cole scored the goals that sealed the first part of that historic treble.

This time around, the Red Devils approach their date with destiny knowing they have another – at Hull next Sunday – in reserve should things go wrong.

Nevertheless, Ferguson is eager to get the job done immediately.

That would give his players the maximum preparation time for the Champions League final with Barcelona in Rome on May 27.