By Richard Bailey Last updated: 23rd October 2009
Rooney: Could miss Reds clash
Wayne Rooney remains doubtful for Manchester United's clash with arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The striker is still affected by a calf injury that forced him to pull out of the England squad 10 days ago.
Rooney, who will be 24 on the day of the game, will train on Friday and Saturday before a decision on his fitness will be made.
The news could present Michael Owen with the chance to start against his former club while manager Sir Alex Ferguson may opt to deploy Dimitar Berbatov as a lone striker should Rooney miss out.
One thing is certain, the England international will be striving to recover in time for the game having grown up a boyhood Everton fan.
Darren Fletcher is also struggling to be fit in time for Sunday's game, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1, but Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra are available.
"On the injury front I can't give a clear picture, there are still some doubts about Rooney and Fletcher," said Ferguson.
"He (Rooney) is always desperate to play, that's the nature of the boy. Of course, you can't let that cloud the realistic side of things. It's going to be important how he does in training on Saturday.
"We'll see if Wayne does train on Saturday and then we'll have a better idea.
"Patrice is fit, and Ryan is also fine, but Ji-sung is out unfortunately. Everyone is fit from after Wednesday's game in Moscow."
Man. Utd 6/4, Liverpool 15/8, Draw 9/4| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| 13:30 | Everton vs Liverpool |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Hull 3 - 3 West Ham | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Everton | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Fulham | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 13 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 13 | 28 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 13 | 20 |
| 9 | Burnley | 13 | 17 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 12 | 15 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 13 | 15 |
| 13 | Everton | 12 | 15 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 16 | Hull City | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 13 | 11 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Take a look back at what Liverpool and Man City fans had to say following a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson can't separate Bolton and Blackburn - but thinks Stoke will see off Portsmouth.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
A second-half goal from Darren Bent was enough to give Sunderland a shock 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
Liverpool dropped two more points and fell further behind in the title race after being held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester City at Anfield.
A Michael Essien brace helped Chelsea easily beat Wolves 4-0 to maintain their five point lead at the top.
Manchester United moved back up to second in the table with a 3-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford.