Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is set to miss out again with a back injury but keeper Edwin Van der Sar could return after a back injury.
Gerard Pique may continue in place of Ferdinand while striker Louis Saha is expected to shake off a knock.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has no new injury worries so he could field the same side that beat Reading.
However, he could opt to use the experienced John Arne Riise in midfield ahead of Ryan Babel.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Pique, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Saha, Tevez, Brown, Scholes, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Evra, Ferdinand, Kuszczak, Foster.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Crouch, Pennant, Itandje.
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Gerard Pique may continue in place of Ferdinand while striker Louis Saha is expected to shake off a knock.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has no new injury worries so he could field the same side that beat Reading.
However, he could opt to use the experienced John Arne Riise in midfield ahead of Ryan Babel.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Pique, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Saha, Tevez, Brown, Scholes, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Evra, Ferdinand, Kuszczak, Foster.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Crouch, Pennant, Itandje.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arch enemies Manchester United and Liverpool clash at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Red Devils seeking a fifth league victory on the bounce and the Merseysiders, a sixth.
United have 11 more points than Liverpool, and have forged a three-point cushion between themselves at the summit, and Arsenal courtesy of Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Bolton. With eight to play, they're now in pole position to win a 10th Premier League title.
It's crunch time for Liverpool, with the Merseyside derby home to Everton, following hot on the heels of this. Both clubs vying for that fourth Champions League qualifying berth. Then Liverpool face Arsenal in three successive matches in the league and the Champions League quarter-finals.
Liverpool are looking for their 50th league victory over Manchester United in the 150th clash between the two; all but the first four were in the top-flight.
MANCHESTER UNITED
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. The loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup was their first defeat in eight (all competitions).
2. Won eight of the last 10, including the last four against Newcastle (a), Fulham (a), Derby (a) and Bolton (h).
3. Secured 22 victories, dropped 20 points, scored 61 goals, at one every 44 minutes on average, and conceded 15, at one every 180 minutes (three hours), or every two games on average; the best in all four categories.
4. Registered the joint fewest draws, alongside Reading; four each.
5. Exceeded last season's total of clean sheets by two to 18; only Chelsea have also managed 17 this term.
6. Opened the scoring in an unmatched 24 games (won 21, and lost just one of them); and allowed the opposition to score first in five matches - that's fewer occasions than any other club.
7. Second to Liverpool in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points. Liverpool have 16.
8. Scored 15 goals in the last 10 minutes, 10 of which were in the last five minutes, seven of those being in stoppage time; no club can beat those, although Arsenal and Reading can match their stoppage time return.
9. Lost two of 31 home league games.
10. This is the second of three successive home fixtures. Aston Villa visit Old Trafford next, before the Champions League quarter-final away leg to AS Roma, and a league trip to Middlesbrough.
Arch enemies Manchester United and Liverpool clash at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Red Devils seeking a fifth league victory on the bounce and the Merseysiders, a sixth.
United have 11 more points than Liverpool, and have forged a three-point cushion between themselves at the summit, and Arsenal courtesy of Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Bolton. With eight to play, they're now in pole position to win a 10th Premier League title.
It's crunch time for Liverpool, with the Merseyside derby home to Everton, following hot on the heels of this. Both clubs vying for that fourth Champions League qualifying berth. Then Liverpool face Arsenal in three successive matches in the league and the Champions League quarter-finals.
Liverpool are looking for their 50th league victory over Manchester United in the 150th clash between the two; all but the first four were in the top-flight.
MANCHESTER UNITED
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. The loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup was their first defeat in eight (all competitions).
2. Won eight of the last 10, including the last four against Newcastle (a), Fulham (a), Derby (a) and Bolton (h).
3. Secured 22 victories, dropped 20 points, scored 61 goals, at one every 44 minutes on average, and conceded 15, at one every 180 minutes (three hours), or every two games on average; the best in all four categories.
4. Registered the joint fewest draws, alongside Reading; four each.
5. Exceeded last season's total of clean sheets by two to 18; only Chelsea have also managed 17 this term.
6. Opened the scoring in an unmatched 24 games (won 21, and lost just one of them); and allowed the opposition to score first in five matches - that's fewer occasions than any other club.
7. Second to Liverpool in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points. Liverpool have 16.
8. Scored 15 goals in the last 10 minutes, 10 of which were in the last five minutes, seven of those being in stoppage time; no club can beat those, although Arsenal and Reading can match their stoppage time return.
9. Lost two of 31 home league games.
10. This is the second of three successive home fixtures. Aston Villa visit Old Trafford next, before the Champions League quarter-final away leg to AS Roma, and a league trip to Middlesbrough.
LIVERPOOL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Won all seven games since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley on 16 February - their only defeat in 10 (all competitions).
2. Unbeaten in seven; won six and drew one since defeat at West Ham on 30 January - their only loss in 14.
3. Lost three times; only Arsenal have been beaten less frequently (just once).
4. Drawn 11 - only Fulham match that.
5. Conceded 21 goals; only Manchester United (15) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in seven games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
6. One of two clubs not have picked up a red card from matches in this league this season; Bolton is the other. Also, shown 37 cards; only Everton have a better disciplinary record with 33 cards (30 yellow, three red).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. Won 111 and lost 111 away from home in this league, and two shy of scoring 400 goals on their Premier League travels.
9. Won one of the last five away from home (1-3 against Bolton at the Reebok on 2 March) and not lost on the road to a North-West club the season, nor in six since a 1-0 reverse to Blackburn on Boxing Day 2006.
10. This is the first of a series of gripping fixtures. Next Sunday, near neighbours Everton are entertained. Three days later its to the Emirates Stadium for the first of two fixtures with Arsenal in four days, before the Gunners come to Anfield on the following Tuesday. There after Blackburn are hosted in another North-West league derby.
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Won all seven games since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley on 16 February - their only defeat in 10 (all competitions).
2. Unbeaten in seven; won six and drew one since defeat at West Ham on 30 January - their only loss in 14.
3. Lost three times; only Arsenal have been beaten less frequently (just once).
4. Drawn 11 - only Fulham match that.
5. Conceded 21 goals; only Manchester United (15) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in seven games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
6. One of two clubs not have picked up a red card from matches in this league this season; Bolton is the other. Also, shown 37 cards; only Everton have a better disciplinary record with 33 cards (30 yellow, three red).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. Won 111 and lost 111 away from home in this league, and two shy of scoring 400 goals on their Premier League travels.
9. Won one of the last five away from home (1-3 against Bolton at the Reebok on 2 March) and not lost on the road to a North-West club the season, nor in six since a 1-0 reverse to Blackburn on Boxing Day 2006.
10. This is the first of a series of gripping fixtures. Next Sunday, near neighbours Everton are entertained. Three days later its to the Emirates Stadium for the first of two fixtures with Arsenal in four days, before the Gunners come to Anfield on the following Tuesday. There after Blackburn are hosted in another North-West league derby.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 33 goals; the highest ever in one season by a winger in the clubs' history.
RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 24 from 24 starts, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Wayne ROONEY needs one goal to total 50 in the Premier League for Manchester United.
If on the field from the outset:-
ROONEY will make his 150th career league start (Everton and Manchester United).
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
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MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 33 goals; the highest ever in one season by a winger in the clubs' history.
RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 24 from 24 starts, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Wayne ROONEY needs one goal to total 50 in the Premier League for Manchester United.
If on the field from the outset:-
ROONEY will make his 150th career league start (Everton and Manchester United).
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
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LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 27 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 20.
TORRES has become only the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool in a season. Robbie Fowler scored 25 in 1994-95, and 28 in 1995-96.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
REINA leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove going into this batch of Premier League fixtures, having kept 14 clean sheets.
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Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 27 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 20.
TORRES has become only the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool in a season. Robbie Fowler scored 25 in 1994-95, and 28 in 1995-96.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
REINA leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove going into this batch of Premier League fixtures, having kept 14 clean sheets.
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HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United are looking for a fifth straight Premier League victory over Liverpool.
Liverpool have failed to score in their last seven Premier League and FA Cup matches with United. The only goal accredited to them against the Red Devils under Rafa Benitez was an own goal from John O'Shea, in the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on 20 September 2004.
Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side will complete a fifth Premier League double over the Merseysiders and second in as many seasons.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Man United 57 wins, Liverpool 49, Draws 43Prem: Man United 17 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 7
at Man Utd onlyLeague (inc PL): Man United 35 wins, Liverpool 14, Draws 25Prem: Man United 8 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 4
Manchester United are looking for a fifth straight Premier League victory over Liverpool.
Liverpool have failed to score in their last seven Premier League and FA Cup matches with United. The only goal accredited to them against the Red Devils under Rafa Benitez was an own goal from John O'Shea, in the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on 20 September 2004.
Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side will complete a fifth Premier League double over the Merseysiders and second in as many seasons.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Man United 57 wins, Liverpool 49, Draws 43Prem: Man United 17 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 7
at Man Utd onlyLeague (inc PL): Man United 35 wins, Liverpool 14, Draws 25Prem: Man United 8 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 4
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool22 October 2006 - Ref: Graham PollMan United scorers: Scholes 39, Ferdinand 66
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool22 October 2006 - Ref: Graham PollMan United scorers: Scholes 39, Ferdinand 66
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United16 December 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey Man Utd scorer: Tevez 43
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United16 December 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey Man Utd scorer: Tevez 43
BBC Sports
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