Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Liverpool v United: Preview
WAYNE Rooney remains a doubt for Manchester United's Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
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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