Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Sunday, 25 October 2009 Kick-off: 1400 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport website and local radio, with text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day Two at 2200 GMT
**Wayne Rooney could miss Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday with the calf injury that has ruled him out of the champions’ last two games.**The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in 10 games this season but has not played since England’s defeat by Ukraine on 10 October.
“Unfortunately Rooney is still a doubt,” said United boss Alex Ferguson.
“We will have to see today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). If he trains on Saturday we will have a better idea.”
Ferguson’s side moved top of the Premier League, a point clear of Chelsea, with victory over Bolton last Saturday.
They already find themselves seven points above Rafael Benitez’s men this term and victory at Anfield would extend that advantage to 10 points.
With four straight defeats in all competitions, including three in the league, Liverpool are enduring their worst run of results in 22 years.
The Anfield club have not lost five in a row for 56 years and their hopes of winning a first league title since 1990 appear to be receding.
“"Manchester United and Liverpool games are massive games - in my 23 years it has never changed, I think if you go to Anfield at any time it is a hard game”
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson insisted he had no intention of writing them off but wanted instead to concentrate on the form of his own team.
United are unbeaten since their defeat by newly-promoted Burnley on 19 August, with 10 victories and one draw propelling them into top spot.
“Derby games are derby games and anyone can win it,” added Ferguson. "It has happened so many times and strange things can happen.
"I am not interested in their league form, I am more pleased with the kind of form we are in. We are consistent and that is important.
"I am more concerned about what we can do rather than them on Sunday.
“We go into it in decent form. There is confidence in our play but it is a derby game and anything can happen in derby games.”
Ferguson was quick to point out that, despite the emergence of Manchester City, he still considers Liverpool to be United’s biggest rivals.
“Manchester United and Liverpool games, as I have said many times, are massive games,” stated the Scot, whose side lost home and away to Liverpool last season. "That will never change.
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“Anyone else got a bad feeling Sunday’s game has come at the wrong time for us”
tier3red
"In my 23 years it has never changed and it is still a massive game and the game as far as I am concerned. I think if you go to Anfield at any time it is a hard game.
“It is always a hard game for both teams and that will be no different on Sunday.”
Liverpool’s dreadful sequence of results has seen boss Rafael Benitez come in for some heavy criticism.
But former Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has given his full backing to the Spaniard, who recently signed a new four-year contract.
Some reports claimed Dalglish, Liverpool’s academy director, had been lined up to take charge of the first team if American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette decided to sack Benitez.
But 58-year-old Dalglish rejected any such suggestions: "Everyone within the upper echelons of this club has no doubt whatsoever about Rafa - I know that for a fact.
"Everybody at Liverpool knows Rafa is the right man to get the club through this. No-one is pumped up and panicking in any way, shape or form.
“It’s very important that everybody sticks together to get themselves through this.”
“Last year we beat Manchester United with Steven Gerrard only playing 20 minutes and Fernando Torres not playing at all - if we did it last year, why can’t we do it this year”
Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish
Dalglish, who spent 14 years at Anfield as player and manager, added: "Of course it’s not good to lose four games in a row.
"It is a bad run and the supporters feel it equally as badly as everyone at the club does.
"Everybody’s accountable. When you have success everybody takes their fair share of the credit - and rightly so. So when it goes badly the same thing must apply in reverse.
“Everyone must stand up and be counted - and then at least we’ll be going in the right direction.”
Dalglish, manager of Liverpool the last time they experienced a run as dismal this, believes Benitez’s men can beat United, even if captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres are not fit to play.
“There’s no way Liverpool and the majority of people would want Rafa to go anywhere,” stated Dalglish.
“Remember last year (at Anfield) we beat Manchester United with Steven Gerrard only playing 20 minutes and Fernando Torres not playing at all. So if we did it last year, why can’t we do it this year”