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Preview: Liverpool v Manchester United

MANCHESTER United's squad has a much healthier look about it for the crunch clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Ryan Giggs, who was in sparkling form in the run up to Christmas, should be available after making a speedy recovery from his hamstring strain.

Rio Ferdinand is expected to recover from a knock in time, and with Louis Saha, John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune all coming through Wednesday's draw with Chelsea unscathed, Sir Alex Ferguson has some welcome selection headaches.

Prime among those is whether or not to recall Roy Carroll to the starting line-up after his high-profile mistake against Tottenham. Tim Howard performed solidly down at Stamford Bridge in midweek, but Ferguson has tended towards Carroll so far this season in the Premiership.

Gary Neville will not be considered despite returning to training after illness.

United now have a seven-game domestic schedule in 29 days up to the derby at Eastlands next month before the Champions League last 16 first-leg glamour tie with AC Milan at Old Trafford.

Fortune, who came back from a hamstring problem after missing five matches, relishes the programme.

"The gaffer said before the game against Chelsea that this kind of big match run is Manchester United and this is what we strive for and train for," says the South African.

"We have a lot of big games and every single player will want to play in them, so we are looking forward to it.

"I was grateful to get through the game. That was success for me and, hopefully, when I am chosen next I will play well.

Manchester United squad: Carroll, Howard, P Neville, Silvestre, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Heinze, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Djemba-Djemba, Smith, Saha, Rooney.

Liverpool v United - the stats

Latest Premiership form

Liverpool: DWWWLW

United: DWWWWD

Head to Head

Apr 5, 2003: United 4 Liverpool 0

Nov 9, 2003: Liverpool 1 United 2

Apr 24, 2004: United 0 Liverpool 1

Sep 20, 2004: United 2 Liverpool 1

Top Premiership scorers

United: Scholes 7, Smith 5

Liverpool: Baros 8, Garcia 5, Riise 5

Referee

Steve Bennett - Missed Ashley Cole's clear handball against Newcastle

Key opponent

Steven Gerrard: Driving force behind Liverpool - and Fergie does not hide his admiration.

Prediction: Liverpool 1 United 1

Do you agree? Have your say.

Comments

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Love all these matches against the scousers but nowadays how things have changed. This is their Cup final, the greatest match of their sad pathetic season. Remember in the seventies when they hated playing us their scud club someone who always stood up to them and dispelled the myth that they were unbeatable.
Back to the present, Think that Fortune should be in the team ahead of Fletcher and Howard again should be in goals. Can`t see anything but a 2-1 win to the Champions. United til death.

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as a united fan i think it will be tough,with ryan giggs back from injury it will be easy 2-0 to
united

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And so onto the stadium of the Michael Mouse treble.

Such fun will be had at half time where we will all be treated to a mock bull fight......these foriegn clubs are fantastic dont you think??

My prediction is 1-2 and i have a feeling morrienties will score late on.
But i still feel we will win comfortably.

Viva United......ARGENTINA.......
...............ARGENTINA.

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One thing I'm sure about is that the scousers aren't going to play for a draw. Which should give us the chance to attack on the counter. If Morientes plays it'll be a risk cos he's just got off the plane and anything could happen but if anything it'll be to our advantage, anyway with Rio- no probs. Scoring is our prob which is why I'd like to see Saha start the game, we need to create a real threat in front of goal. Carroll should be given a suitcase instead of a place on the bench. Tough one to call but we must win (as usual) and I'm going for a nerve-racking 1-0, maybe 2-1. Saha or Rooney to score. Can't wait. Fortune and Glory, boys.

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Big Bird I know exactly what you mean, despite the decline of Liverpool and the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea are the teams to beat, this is still the big one for me. Brings back great memories, like Russell Beardsmore on New Years Day 1989 into the Stretford End. Magic. COME ON REDS!

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i think that given we have a talented 'scouser' playing 4 us, it might unsettle rooney if the anti-scouser thing continues. Smith has also left a hotbed of hatred for MU but these players have shown strength in choosing Old Trafford and it would be more supportive to those players to show that we are above old fashioned regionalistic hatred, after all, we all know who the the rest of europe fear.

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Firstly a United win wrote all over it. Crimespool won`t sit back and will gave us every opportunity to hit them on the counter. Even with injuries we`re far too strong for this nobodies. Make sure boys the Mickey mouse banners are flying high.

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It is balanced out very nicely for this game after the week we've experienced.
Let's get the momentum giong again this time!
I think that the XI should read
something like :
Howard; Neville, Ferdinand, SylvestrC), Heinze; Scholes, Fletcher, Keane, Fortune; SahC! / Giggs, Smith;
Let's get the 3 points!
Up The Reds

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I think Frank is spot on with Saha having to start. I don't think Smith is enough of a threat down the middle....but you can never be sure that SAF won't start him. I have a sneaking suspicion that Saha's fortunes will finally turn the corner in a break-out game. Rooney is also due for a stand-out performance....the boy has been quite of late and I fancy him for a goal. This is a potential watershed game for United. They say the confidence is back....we'll see.....you absolutely can't ignore Gerrard, Baros or Morientes....there's real quality there and United's defence will be under threat all afternoon as it was against Chelsea. Prediction....cracking, fast-paced, high-quality game Liverpool 1 United 3..Saha gets 2

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I'd like to see Saha given a start on the right with Ronnie coming on as a sub. Smitty and Roo up front with Giggsy back on the left wing. It wouldn't hurt to clatter a couple of the young spanish kids early on but it will be a tight game. Maybe 2-2. The Arse and the Ruskies have tough ones so 3 points could be huge.

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man u 2 liverpool 0 rooney and smith score.

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Ronaldo was great against liverpool at their first meeting for the season!I think he should play!

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hopefully we will see a good game, i fancy utd to nick it more so if rio, ryan, wayne, and smithy are playing,but we have got to keep gerrard quiet& morientes if he plays because he is a good player not treated well at madrid. score 1-2 united.

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utd and pool... two great sides!
but there are some russian Arses who think they are able to dominate the league... teams like leeds or forest ve been relegated... even aston villa will never win anything in the near future... who the hell are chelsea? who cares about arsenal? they will never rule europe... NEVER! and we all know y! coz they are frightend of the ultimate victory. FIERA!!! will never be something like keane... henry just scores against poor pl-opposition... IT S TRUE aint it?
only sol cambell is their force---
where did it all go wrong? blah blah pucking blah!!!!!! LETS KILL OFF LIVERPOOL! IN MY EYES MORIENTES IS MUCH BETTER THAN HENRY AND YOU KNOW Y? COZ HE CAN HANDLE THE PRESSURE. RUUD VAN NISTELROOY IS STILL THE BEST STRIKER IN THE WORLD. WE MISS YOU RUUDJE! COME BACK !!!

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Today we'll prove that we are better than you....Morientes is coming to get you.
Soon we'll both fight for 3rd place eventually 4th after Everton.
LIV 3 MU 0
S. Gerrard(1)Morientes(2)....
And off course a clean goal taken by the ref....Caroll does it again...ahahaha

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Mr. the real reds- very good, a round of applause please! Just shows what happens when you're denied the title for 15 years and counting!

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