The United manager refused to publicly criticise his players following the 4-1 mauling at the hands of Rafael Benitez's side - but his silence is sure to be betrayed by the team he selects to face Fulham.
Bringing in Jonny Evans for the suspended Nemanja Vidic will be his only enforced change - but that is certain to be one of several as the fall-out from the Liverpool horror show takes shape.
The ineffective central midfield partnership of Michael Carrick and Anderson is expected to be broken up, with Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs all in contention for a recall.
Dimitar Berbatov should sharpen a strike force that looked decidedly blunt with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, while only a lack of options at right back should save John O'Shea.
Code
Ferguson was never likely to break his dressing room code and turn on his players in the wake of defeat to one of their closest title rivals - but he had already hinted at complacency slipping into the ranks following Champions League victory against Inter Milan last week.
Ferguson, who accused his side of showboating against the Italian champions, took the unusual step of highlighting Scholes's sloppiness in that game, dropping him for the clash with Liverpool three days later.
Berbatov, who was virtually anonymous against Inter, was also left out, with Ferguson opting for the Rooney-Tevez partnership that had looked so lethal against Fulham in United's 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Craven Cottage.
But it could be all change tomorrow with Ferguson expecting a resounding response to the most serious question mark yet this season placed on his side's defence of the Premier League.
United still retain a four-point lead over Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as having a game in hand, but in recent weeks Ferguson has stressed the importance of ensuring the chasing pack are not given any encouragement.
In the face of quintuple pursuits, he has also increasingly talked of getting "kicked in the teeth," adding that his side are prepared for it.
Painful
That the boot doing the kicking belonged to Benitez made it all the more painful. But rather than one isolated defeat, Ferguson will know that another stumble against Roy Hodgson's Fulham could provide all the incentive Chelsea and Liverpool need to turn a title canter into a genuine race again.
And, having signed a new long-term contract, Benitez fired up the title challenge again yesterday by saying: "This season is not finished yet and it is by no means a foregone conclusion that Manchester United are going to win the league. We gave them a fright at the weekend so the title race is open again. There's still lots to play for and lots to be excited about."
Ferguson has been keen to play down talk of a clean sweep this season, and re-emphasised that again yesterday.
"The thing about cup football is you need to be the best but you also need a lot of luck and I think it's asking too much for all the games to go your way," he said. "The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had. Every game we play, I feel confident.
"At the moment, every attack fears our defence and every defence fears our midfield and attack. That gives you confidence but it is too tough a call."
But his star player Cristiano Ronaldo remains convinced United are still on the verge of creating history.
With the Club World Cup and Carling Cup already secured this season, the Portuguese winger believes United can go on to complete a clean sweep by adding the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup to their haul.
"We're positive about all the competitions we're involved in and we want to win them all," he said.
Upset
"It would be great to achieve that. Last season we won the League and the European Cup, and this year we have the opportunity to do even better.
"We'll continue working hard and believe we can do it."
Despite two heavy defeats to United in recent weeks, in both the league and FA Cup, Fulham's John Pantsil insists the Londoners can cause an upset.
"They've beaten us on two occasions already but we know what we want to do and we don't want to go back to where we were two weeks ago," he said. "We don't want to let ourselves or the fans down. We want at least a point on Saturday."
Danny Murphy will be one man hoping to do his former team-mates at Liverpool a favour by administering another blow to United's title hopes.
He added: "Together, we've all knitted in and moved forward now. We're far from being the finished article. We have our weaknesses like every team.
"We've struggled on the road to score goals and get points and that's been a disappointment but overall in terms of the bigger picture, the fans, staff and players all feel like we're moving forward."
Which team would you select to face Fulham? Have your say.
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VDS, Fabio, Rio, Evans, Evra, Fletch, Carrick, Nani, Ron, Roo & Berba
I've always felt that playing Anderson on the left of a midfield 3 in a 433 formation would be our strongest formation. Park is a waste of space for me.
We need to start this game at a high tempo and try and score in the first 15 mins. Despite our shakiness at the back recently if we score first we should have too much for them.
United usually respond well to a setback and I'm hoping that having had a week to stew on their inept performance, a lot of the players have points to prove and we can move out of second gear for once. After this game there is a pointless international break, so we have to make sure we win this, as we'll have 2 weeks to wait to put it right if we don't.
VDS or Foster
NOT oshea but maybe Fletcher
Rio Evans Evra
Anderson Scholsey Ronaldo
Rooney Tevez and Nani
Rev Berbatov
JMO
VDS Who is the comedian then? He should be benched that clown has cost us twice against LIVERPOOL.
This as been the longest week of the season. Saturday 3pm can't come around fast enough, I'm sure the players feel the same. Agree with Bradley's team selection apart from Giggs for Nani.
How i wish SAF can drop VDS for the Fullham match.
From the moment Rooney made his 'hate' comment we were on that slippery slope. Not good PR - we already know how he feels. They were fired up for the game. I could sense Gerrard and Carragher instilling in the scouse foreigners what a win at OT would mean. They are now the greatest team in the universe, despite the fact they have not won the premier. Utd fans were living with the fallacy Anderson could 'pocket' Gerrard. A nonsense scenario. Vidic was in a dream world believing Torres could also be taken care of. It is the one thing i fear most about Utd - that "full up" factor that comes with complacency and very substantial bank accounts. At half time i prayed for the draw. Unfortunately all was lost when Vidic, confidence shot to pieces, did his GBH bit on Gerrard. Nothing short of a demolition job on Fulham will convince me Utd have the stomach for it.
Foster, Fabio, Rio, Evans, Evra, Fletch, Carrick, Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney & Berba
Subs: KK, O'Shea, Anderson, Possebon, Tevez, Welbeck
Or better still, how about this...
Foster, Fabio, Rio, Evans, Evra
Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo
Welbeck & Berba
It would never happen, but be fun to watch...
as always 100% effort from all 11 players if we get that we should be ok.
foster, fabio, rio, evans, evra, fletch, anderson, nani, ron, tevez, berba
we need fresh legs to play.... we need tevez to have a run of games to gain sharpness for the run in, nani needs A GAME (cant believe we are wasting his talent)
theres no point having this massive squad if some players play once a month or once every fa/carling cup match
The sooner O'Shea goes the better. Pity about Rafael. And Berbatov is not far behind. What has happened to Ronaldo. He isn't a shadow of the player he was two seasons ago.
As usual the muppet that is DanSLOW from Wit SLOW is in a negative frame of mind. Go to Wastelands where you belong.
As for me being in Moscow seeing the great VDS save the penalty makes the man a GOD second only to Red Nose in his position.
Every one has a bad day at the office and we had a stinker, I suspect the players know this and are all choking at the bit to get back on the pitch and prove themselves the best in the World.
Yes Dan SLOW we are Champions of the World.
My lineup, VDS, GN Rio JE JOS, CR DF MC JSP, DB WR. Left back is the big guess as JOS and PE have knocks, which may give an opportunity for Fabio. Either way, I think JSP will play ahead of them. Prediction, a squeaky 2-0.
I can't believe the comments about Park or that nobody has included him in their ideal line-up. He has been our most consistent player during the last few weeks and always gives a hundred per cent. Everyone keeps going on about Anderson but for me he has gone backwards this season after showing so much promise last season. Carrick and Scholes don't play well together and I would certainly have Giggs in the central midfield with Fletcher and Park and Ronaldo wide. Rooney and Berbatov up front and Jonny Evans replacing Vidic.
We are four points clear with a game in hand so it isn't exactly a crisis. We just need to resume business as usual.
Yes Dan SLOW we are Champions of the World.
GC Northstand,
VDS may have saved penalty thats what they are paid to do TAIBI saved all his penalties but we got rid of him because he had the jitters VDS does not command his area he is weak on crosses and my sistewr can punch a ball better.
George Lyons,
Liverpool had a whole week to prepare for the Real Madrid game. United played that midweek in the FA Cup and so did Real in the Spanish Cup. So, Liverpool had an easier game in the Cl than United who were playing a very strong Inter team. Liverpool had a day more to recover from their lesser exertions. The match on Saturday was the early kick off to make matters worse. Liverpool took their chances and we lost. That doesn't mean we were complacent or that they didn't play well. On another day we could thrash the same Liverpool team - don't believe the Benitez propaganda. I don't agree with the article either. i don't think SAF will make many changes. Fulham 0 United 3.
Just get the win!
After last week I want just 3points again!!
Bring back Bryan Robson, Incey & Gordon McClean!!
Individual mistakes & tactics cost us last week against Liverpool, Fergie didn't set his team out to combat Liverpools 4-5-1. His subs made it a whole lot worse. You can't play against a very good 5 man midfield unless all your own midfield are willing to work hard and track back & with Ronaldo not bothering to track back & Anderson off his game we were overrun. All Fergie needed to do was drop another man into midfield to pick up Gerrard. Liverpool are over hyped so let the scousers keep thinking they are the best team on the planet as it plays into our hands.
As I keep asking people Cyprus Red- what is good about Park? His passing? His Scoring? His dribbling? Call me negative, but I have every right (like Danslow gc northstand) to make a statement. Utd have not had the same flair all season as the previous two seasons. Granted they have grinded out results, but I want to see some more flair. I'm not sure if it coincides with CQ leaving, but I think Fergie needs a better assistant than Mickey. I've got a feeling we will get the arses in the semi of Euro Cup. I hope fergie sticks with Anderson in midfield and brings in Fletcher. Fabio should play at RB because O'shea is useless.
utd will bounce back hard luck scousers and cockneys
utd are the team 4 me
Past experiences with Fergie tells me that he'll put out the exact same team he did against Pool with the only exception being Vidic. He'll do so just to show them that the liverpool game was a one of. I have a huge gut feeling about this.
Justin you say we need Tevez to have a run of games! He has played in around 75% of matches this season I read(played in, not necessarily started), which is far more than some of the boys. I'm getting a bit put off with lack of matches being offered up as an excuse for Carlito. Look how everyone jumped up and down when Roon was running himself ragged and when Roon or berbs don't score goals. Whilst I love Tevez and his industry on the pitch he isnt stepping up and his shooting has been woeful. I hope he comes good soon if he is to be the saviour some claim. He may not have started much in the earlier parts but wow, he has played more than people seem to care to remember.
Good luck boys. We know you can bounce back. It was a shocker but everyone has them. Its how you pick up and dust off that counts! We are all behind you through thick and thin..we should be hanging our heads if we are not !! Get in their United and show them how we respond.