Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice of England should chose Manchester United over Liverpool, according to former United captain Rio Ferdinand.
Liverpool won the English title in 2019–20, however they are now sixth.
On Sunday, they play host to third-place United at Anfield (16:30 GMT).
On a graph, Liverpool have stalled while Manchester United are moving in the opposite direction, according to Ferdinand on BBC Radio 5 Live's The Friday Football Social.
Bellingham, 19, of Borussia Dortmund, and Rice, 24, the captain of West Ham, have both been connected to high-profile summer transfers.
Yet Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at United and won the Champions League and six Premier League championships, continued: "I wouldn't say Liverpool are in decline."
"Forget my Manchester United ties; I have to choose United at this time if someone asks me where I'm going, say if I'm a player like Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice, two of the most sought-after English midfielders who may go this summer.
"I truly would be sitting on the side of United because of how the team looks, how the squad is developing, how the managers are guiding the fortunes of their teams, and who I think would be more successful in the near future."
Last year, Liverpool won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, fell to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and pushed the Premier League championship fight all the way to the season's last day.
Ferdinand claims to be "very pleased" with the work the former Ajax manager has accomplished.
Ten Hag has demonstrated a willingness to take on difficult situations, as seen by his choice to sideline the in-form Marcus Rashford when he was late for a team meeting or to allow forward Cristiano Ronaldo leave the squad in November after he criticised the team and management.
The 44-year-old Ferdinand said, "He has been fantastic in every sector, whether it is tactically, in-game managing, making substitutes to alter games, or the significant decisions he has had to make around great players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford.
Ten Hag has entered each of these circumstances and emerged much more positively; as a result, the club is in a stronger position.
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