RICKIE Lambert is hoping to get revenge for his hometown club Liverpool by firing Saints to a shock FA Cup win against Manchester United.

The St Mary’s hotshot is a massive Reds fan, having been born and raised in Merseyside.

Lambert grew up immersed in the bitter rivalry between Liverpool and United, and the chance to face the enemy tomorrow is a huge incentive for the 28-year-old – especially after the Red Devils dumped the club he supports out in the third round.

“The rivalry with United is something I’ve grown up with, so it will be an extra bit special if we beat them,” said Lambert, who has numerous friends and family coming down for the fourth round game at St Mary’s.

“Of course I am excited. I am obviously a Liverpool fan, so I was a bit disappointed that Liverpool lost because we would have played them.

“But to get Manchester United is a brilliant, brilliant tie and at home as well.

“I would have loved to play at Old Trafford, but to play them at home means we’ve got more chance of beating them.”

And Lambert, who has scored nine goals this campaign, believes talk of an upset is not fantasy and that Saints can succeed where Liverpool failed.

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“Of course Saints can win it,” he insisted. “It’s a football game.

“I think if it was at their ground it would be very unlikely, but we’ve definitely got a small chance of beating them at ours.”

Lambert added: “They haven’t got many weaknesses, as you can see by the fact they haven’t been beaten this season.

“It doesn’t mean it is impossible, though.

“Obviously, we’ve got to hope that they are not firing on all cylinders when they come to our place and we are.

“If that happens then I think we can do it.”

Although Saints have stuttered slightly in their last two League One games, picking up just a single point, Lambert is pleased with how the club’s form has improved under manager Nigel Adkins.

“I’m very, very happy with the progress made this season,” said the striker, who bagged 37 goals last season.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the best of starts.

“I’m not going to go into too much detail about what happened, but, obviously, with the team we had, it was very frustrating that we weren’t doing as well as we could.

“It was nice that we finally got a manager in and, since he has come in, I think we have steadily picked it up and we’re now showing everyone how good we are.

“I think we’re only going to get better as well.”