Having suffered four defeats in the English Premier League already this season a negative result against United would see Liverpool's worst run for 56 years and leave Rafael Benitez' men 10 points adrift of their opponents at the top of the table. Suffice to say, defeat may well end their title ambitions.
A Liverpool Win Could Reignite Their Season
A win for the Reds however, would reignite their season which has seen a sudden collapse of late and has left their Champions League campaign hanging by a thread. Fixtures against Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devil's are never easy and despite their run of bad form the game may come at the right time for Liverpool. Despite facing a run of five consecutive defeats, these types of games motivate players and the Anfield outfit will be expected to rally together with the belief that they are due a win.
The Reds though may have to face the old foe without inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard who limped out of the midweek game with Lyon with a re-occurrence of the groin injury he picked up on international duty. Benitez is also sweating on the fitness of Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson though both took part in Friday's training session and are expected to be available. Without Gerrard however, it is difficult to pick a player from the current squad who has the drive to lead the home side to victory. That mantle may well have to rest with the Kop.
Ferguson will be wary of Liverpool's poor form and warn his men against a backlash. The Manchester outfit were turned over twice last season, 2-1 in the corresponding fixture at Anfield, a game Liverpool won without Gerrard and Torres, and more surprisingly in the 4-1 thrashing at Old Trafford. Ferguson will insist to his players that won't happen this time round against what he admits to being his most bitter rivals.
Manchester United to Miss Wayne Rooney
England striker Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the trip down the M62 so United may well start with Dimitar Berbatov on his own up front with Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs in support. United will also be without Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park.
Liverpool, Man United encounters are often feisty affairs and has seen dismissals in the last three meetings. The weekend's contest is not expected to be any different and will be played at a high-tempo and frantic pace. At times it may not be pretty, but one thing is for certain, it will be tense.
