Legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson once singled out a Premier League ground as having the finest atmosphere in England.

The former Manchester United manager spent 26 years in charge at Old Trafford and came up against 73 different opponents from across the English football pyramid during his 1,492 matches at the helm of the Premier League giants.

Throughout that time, Sir Alex would undoubtedly have experienced some of the finest grounds in the country, as well as a few of the least impressive stadiums in the region.

Yet, despite Old Trafford being his home for more than two decades, the 84-year-old previously admitted that the ground of a fierce rival was the one he considered to have the best atmosphere.

Ferguson Picks England's Best Atmosphere

During a conversation with former Manchester United defender and captain Gary Neville, Ferguson outlined why he regarded Anfield as the country's best stadium atmosphere outside of Old Trafford:

"Anfield [was] electric. You've [Neville] been there and know what it's like. It's a marvellous atmosphere. You have to expect that atmosphere even when you're losing. You never felt safe there. It was a really volatile atmosphere."

The legendary Scotsman also confirmed a story about once leaving Neville out of the travelling squad for a visit to Anfield to protect him. Ferguson explained that he could not risk allowing the right-back to warm up in front of the Liverpool supporters.

Ferguson is far from the only high-profile manager to hold this opinion. His long-time rival Arsène Wenger was also convinced that Anfield possessed one of the finest atmospheres in European football. According to the Liverpool Echo, the former Arsenal boss once described it as "the most heated stadium in Europe in a return game. It is the only place you don't want to go."