Never understood the suggestions we are trying to build a rivalry with them. Since the take over they've raised their game massively to play us, particularly when we visit Anfield it's a big event and the cue for a cup final style performance with Jay Spearing/Jon Flanagan playing the game of their lives. Then they went back to dropping points against Villa/West Brom the following week. Everton has been similar but at least that was set off by us signing Lescott and Moyes' comments about his/our poor behavior that he used to whip the fans & players into a frenzy. Booing our players for 90 minutes and I don't remember any set of fans jeering off our injured players like Tevez and Yaya were at Anfield, not to mention the bus attack.
Plus it wouldn't make a lot of sense to be rivals with a team that hasn't won anything and has spent most seasons in mid table since we became a decent team. Pretty much all of the other top 6 sides would be better candidates.