Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.

Competition

preview: MANCHESTER UNITED v liverpool

premiership matchday 05

Old Trafford, Manchester, 13.30pm GMT, Sunday 19th September 2010.

Pre Match Press Conference Highlights

On the fixture

"I sound like a parrot but this is the fixture. There is no question about that," he said. "It doesn't change. The form fluctuates quite a bit but we won the last game so hopefully that turns it back towards us again.""
 

On SAF's relationship with Roy Hodgson

"I have known him for a long time," said Ferguson. "I first met him in 1987 when I went on an aborted trip to Malmo. 
"It was a European tie against Ajax and they abandoned it after one minute. He was at the game and we went for dinner afterwards."

Rio Ferdinand on team performance
This kind of game is always good for galvanising spirit and belief," "You would be beating one of your closest rivals, so to win this game would be great for team morale.
"Hopefully it will put us on the crest of a wave."

"There is a frustration with results but not with performance," he said. "We have been in commanding positions, so not to come away with six points from those two games is disappointing.  "But overall, we are pleased with the way we are playing.
"We have been scoring goals freely, including five in two games away from home. The main point is that we have to finish them off.

Ryan Giggs
No matter how the teams are doing, it's always the big game of the season... It's always the one you look forward to, the atmosphere will be brilliant here and all the players will be up for it
 

Team News

Several big hitters are to return after being rested for the midweek tie with Rangers.

Rio Ferdinand is expected to continue his return to 1st team action after coming through the Rangers tie unscathed.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will return for Liverpool after missing Thursday's Europa League win against Steaua Bucharest.

England midfielder Joe Cole will also return to Premier League action following a three-match suspension.
 

Match Official

Squads

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Fabio, Park, Gibson, Scholes, Anderson, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Konchesky, Lucas, Poulsen, Cole, Rodriguez, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Torres, Jones, Meireles, Pacheco, Babel, Ngog, Krygiakos.
 

Liverpool Matchfacts

Biggest Margin of Victory

5-0, 11/09/1946 @ Maine Road (due to Old Trafford being damaged by WW2)

Biggest Margin of Defeat

1-7, 12/10/1895 @ Anfield.

Previous Meetings

When was the last time we beat them? 21/03/2010, 2-1 @ Old Trafford

When was the last time they beat us? 25/10/2009, 0-2 @ Anfield

When was the last draw? 18/09/2005, 0-0 @ Anfield.

Largest Ever Attendance:

100,000, The FA Cup Final played 21/05/1977 @ Wembley

100,000, the Charity Shield played 26/03/1983 @ Wembley

Notable "Played for both Clubs"

Opponent Manager Head to Head

MUFC v Roy Hodgson

Milestones

5174th competitive fixture in club history.

SAF's 701st Premiership fixture in charge.

1295th Home League fixture in club history.

180th game between the two sides.

Score Prediction

With all the big guns back, im going for, 3-1 to the Reds.

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