Man United v Liverpool preview

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 1-1

SKYBET odds: Man Utd 10/11, Draw 11/5, Liverpool 7/2

One to Watch: Wayne Rooney

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Manchester United and Liverpool renew their fierce rivalry at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime with more than just North-West pride at stake.

Defending champions United currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and hold a game in hand over Liverpool, who had set the pace earlier in the season.

Rafa Benitez's Reds began 2008/09 with high hopes of ending a 19-year league title drought, and for the first half of the campaign those dreams looked like they could become reality.

However, with predictable menace, world, European and English title holders United have clicked into gear when it counts, and have left their Merseyside foes - who visit Manchester well aware that the match is a must-win if thread-hanging optimism of catching the Red Devils is to be maintained - trailing in vapour.

Historic

United, who have added the Carling Cup to their Fifa Club World Cup and are gearing up for an FA Cup semi-final and UEFA Champions League quarter-final, have their sights set on a historic quintuple, but boss Sir Alex Ferguson's eyes will be on a more immediate goal.

Ferguson makes no secret of the fact that meetings with Liverpool are those he searches out on the fixture list, and this latest instalment comes with added excitement for the Scot as, it is generally accepted, it could deliver the final nail to their opponent's title hopes.

Former Everton star Wayne Rooney - fresh from controversial comments about Liverpool - is expected to start at Old Trafford in partnership with Dimitar Berbatov after the pair helped defeat Inter Milan on Wednesday.

England defender Rio Ferdinand appeared to come through the midweek victory without any reaction to his ankle injury and should partner the outstanding Nemanja Vidic in the heart of a back four.

Demolition

Long-term absentees Gary Neville, Wes Brown and Owen Hargreaves remain sidelined, along with Rafael da Silva.

Liverpool, who have nosedived domestically since the turn of the year, boosted spirits drastically with a stunning 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid on Tuesday and will travel to United on a high.

Captain Steven Gerrard was at his supreme best against Real, and Benitez will hope for more from his on-pitch leader as he looks for a first win at Old Trafford.

Fernando Torres, with the help of a pain-killing injection in his problem ankle, aided Gerrard with aplomb against his Spanish compatriots and hopes will be high that there are no ill-effects.

Benitez - who has announced he will make a decision on his future within the next two weeks - should start with Albert Riera after the Spanish winger was suspended for midweek action, but Yossi Benayoun (hamstring) remains absent.

Possible starting XIs

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Gerrard, Torres.