Brendan the brave! Liverpool boss Rodgers jogs around Manchester city centre ahead of fiery Capital One Cup clash with United

The age-old rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool is one of the greatest in English football. It's can also be one of the fiercest.

Although there has always been a mutual respect between the two North-West giants, there’s no love lost between both sets of supporters.

Brendan Rodgers doesn’t seem to mind though.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...65_634x658.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...82_306x634.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...62_306x634.jpg

The Liverpool manager was preparing for his team’s Capital One Cup clash against David Moyes’ United by going running through Manchester city centre, just hours before kick-off.

He set about a lengthy jog around the city, covering considerable ground in the 50-minute run with his trainer.

Rodgers has shed the pounds in recent months after undergoing his own regime at Melwood training ground, but it appears his rigorous programme isn’t limited to the confines of Liverpool’s HQ.

Former Swansea manager Rodgers, 40, is noticeably slimmer than he was last season after a stressful first season and the death of both his parents saw him put on weight since joining the Anfield club last summer.

But the Northern Irish coach has always taken his personal fitness seriously, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011 for the Marie Curie cancer fund.