Liverpool hold the balance of power

'But just as Liverpool discovered after dominating the Seventies and Eighties, dynasties cannot go on for ever. There is no doubt that Liverpool are the team to beat at the moment and you sense they are beginning to develop the same selfassurance United have had.

'When you go away with England, it is noticeable that the Liverpool lads have a belief about them that you always got from United's players. Winning trophies last season will only add to the hunger and make them even more eager to build on what they've done.

'Everything is in place for Liverpool to be United's natural successors. Arsenal and Leeds are going to have a major say in that but Liverpool are perhaps further on in their development.

'Arsenal made extensive changes during the summer, and we can only wait and see how they cope with that. Similarly, Leeds have brought in a number of young players, and it is whether they can mature quickly enough. Liverpool-on the other hand, have a fair bit of experience to go with their youth, and maybe that can give them an edge.'

Southgate interprets criticism of Liverpool's style as a sign that they are on the right track.

'Winning seems to make you unpopular,' he said, 'and, as Phil Thompson said, some of the stuff has been a bit disrespectful. Maybe they play a rigid system defensively, but I can't see anything wrong with that.

'They have got players you would happily pay to watch, so it hardly seems fair to call them boring.' While Liverpool continue in the ascendancy, Middlesbrough could be heading in the opposite direction with many more performances like this.

Apart from one sharp near-post effort from Alen Boksic, smartly turned round by Jerzy Dudek, they failed to muster any serious attacking intent.

Southgate said: 'The difference in class shone through, but it was still a big letdown for us that we did not make more of an impact. We did not keep the ball long enough to get into the game, and that was a major disappointment.'