The United striker has been out with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful the former Everton star will be fit to feature on Merseyside but admits it is far from certain.
Ferguson said: "He is always desperate to play. That is the nature of the boy, you won't stop that."
Veteran Ryan Giggs is poised to return after suffering a knock in last week's defeat of Bolton and Patrice Evra has overcome a heel problem.
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Darren Fletcher (groin) is another doubt while Park Ji-Sung (knee) is set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
United go into the game on the back of a Champions League win at CSKA Moscow - Liverpool having suffered a demoralising home loss to Lyon - but Nemanja Vidic insists the game is no foregone conclusion.
The Serbia international said: “It is not good to have too much confidence but it is good to have won before the game against Liverpool.
“We believe in the squad and each other and this is important.”
Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Steven Gerrard (groin) ahead of the big game.
Fernando Torres should recover from a thigh strain in time to play as Rafa Benitez' men look to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Babel, N'Gog, Aurelio, Lucas, Benayoun, Spearing, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Insua, Cavalieri, Kelly.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, J Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Owen, Welbeck, Macheda, Nani, Fabio, Rafael, Fletcher, Rooney.
Liverpool league form: WWWLL
United league form: WWWDW
Prediction: Liverpool 0 United 1 - The Reds are a better side than Liverpool at the moment and should pick up three points - but it will be tough if Rooney doesn't make it
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Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All
Matthew Savage (23/10/2009 at 10:35)
Red-Brit-in-It (23/10/2009 at 10:55)
Gerry, Glastonbury (23/10/2009 at 11:05)
The midfield is interesting with or wIthout Fletcher. If Fletch is fit then Scholes probably won't play.
Without Fletch, Anderson will fill that role with Carrick & Scholes alongside.
RB is another puzzle. Will O'Shakey return as I really can't see The Nevster playing two games so close together. Wes would be a third option but Fergie has hardly given him a run at all of late and he seems out of favour.
All eyes will be Rio & Vidic as they have struggled somewhat all season thus far so let's hope that Torres is out for Liverpool.
Alias Smith, over the moon (23/10/2009 at 11:39)
My team would be: VdS, JOS, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher/Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney/Owen. I might even be tempted not to risk Rooney at all and just go with Owen from the start.
I hope Vidic can rediscover his form as he is likely to be targetted by Torres.
Agree with the comments of Red-Brit-in-It.
james cromley, stockport (23/10/2009 at 11:40)
Torres and Johnson were rested midweek but it backfired on Benitez when Gerard hobbled off.
It doesn't matter who plays both teams will be up for it. Hope it's an end to end nail biter.
2OLEGEND, Lancaster (23/10/2009 at 12:37)
bobbydazzler (23/10/2009 at 12:55)
saf pick the right team this means giggs wide left
all the players put in maximum effort.
all the players play all out all of the game.
if we can manage step 1-3 we will win simply because we have more quality in our side.
on the other hand if they stop playing like they did in the last 20 minutes against bolton we will come unstuck
stevi, france (23/10/2009 at 13:23)
starting line up:
Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Owen.
Subs:
Foster, Evans, Nani, Fabio, Fletcher, Rooney.
Drago 34 (23/10/2009 at 14:11)
...........................Van Der Sar
Neville..........Ferdinand..........Vidic...........Evra
Valencia.........Fletcher...........Carrick........Giggs
...................Rooney...........Berbatov
Subs:
Foster
Evans
O'Shea
Anderson
Scholes
Nani
Owen
With Rooney dropping into centre midfield when we dont have the ball to give us the numbers in there so we dont get out numbered.Come on United, we can do it boys.
Red Rob (West Lower) (23/10/2009 at 14:13)
jordy, Middleton (23/10/2009 at 15:13)
neal 07, south stand lower (23/10/2009 at 16:04)
O'Shea is a weaklink, leave him on the bench/bus as he offers nothing going forward and doesnt get close enough to his man, as per Bellamys first goal in the derby and Bent's for Sunderland
Wazza should not be risked from the start, plus Berba & Michael are having an understanding and with the dippers terrible full backs, slow centre halfs and zonal marking they are ripe for picking & who better at getting around this than our number 7?
Yes it will be a blood and thunder start to the match, they have to do this as there season is at a breaking point and with little in terms of quality, then all they can offer is in our faces sort of play!! So we play our 2 most inform wingers, Nani & Valencia, attack their full backs and then bring Giggsy on with half an hour to go to terrorise them all over again
3-0 to the champions!!!
Redraw, Belfast (23/10/2009 at 16:06)
Valencia will get at the slow Insu, the lad wibbles hes that fat and slow.......
T Carroll (23/10/2009 at 17:00)
Fredrik, Sweden (23/10/2009 at 18:23)
atta hagos (23/10/2009 at 18:29)
charbel (23/10/2009 at 22:55)
You can never guess Fergie's formation. He always has a surprise in there. But just a guess:
VDS; O'Shea, Evra, Rio, Vidic; Giggs, Fletcher, Anderson, Ronaldo; Rooney and Owen.
Lou Macari's Fish and Chippie (24/10/2009 at 02:08)
Seamus, Vanisle,ex-Stretford (24/10/2009 at 17:33)
Mark Jefford (25/10/2009 at 11:41)
It may have slipped my attention , but when did Utd re-sign Ronaldo ?