Premier League - Manchester United v Liverpool preview
Michael Carrick, Danny Welbeck y Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Team news, manager quotes, fact and figures ahead of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
TEAM NEWS
Winger Nani has recovered from a long-term hamstring injury and is available. Defender Jonny Evans (calf) and striker Javier Hernandez (knee) are making encouraging progress in their respective rehabilitation programmes and could also feature. Manager David Moyes must decide whether to stick with Robin van Persie or to recall Danny Welbeck, who scored a fine goal against West Brom last weekend.
Midfielder Lucas Leiva and defender Mamadou Sakho both return to Liverpool's squad for Sunday's trip to Manchester United. The pair, sidelined for some time with knee and hamstring injuries respectively, both came through an under-21s game unscathed on Friday and have rejoined the first team. Forward Raheem Sterling could push for a recall after scoring almost immediately having come off the bench in their last victory at Southampton on March 1.
MANAGER QUOTES
David Moyes: "Their league position suggests they are ahead of us and they possibly do come here favourites. It has been a great rivalry between the two clubs," Moyes added. "Liverpool are having a very good season and we have to do everything we possibly can to beat them."
Brendan Rodgers: "I have never made a big push publicly about us wining the title. For me it's not about playing down expectations or mind games, it's really about taking a humble approach to the season. We have been letting our actions on the pitch do the talking and remaining dignified in our approach to everything. We've been looking to improve our performance levels and they've been getting better all the time."
MATCH STATS
Manchester United have won eight of the last nine Barclays Premier League home games against Liverpool (W8 D0 L1).
Daniel Sturridge has scored in his last two league games for Liverpool against Man Utd.
Robin van Persie has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League starts against Liverpool.
Liverpool have scored 47 first half goals in the Premier League this season, one more than Manchester United have in total.
Only Everton v Liverpool (20) has seen more red cards than the Liverpool v Manchester United fixture in the Premier League (14).
Only one team (Arsenal) have kept a clean sheet against Liverpool in their last 16 Premier League away trips.
Liverpool have been awarded more penalties than any other Premier League side this season (7).
Manchester United have not conceded a penalty at Old Trafford in the Premier League since December 31 2011 (v Blackburn Rovers).
Six of the last 10 goals in this fixture have been scored in the 15 minute period just after half-time.
This game should feature the three players to have been involved in the most Premier League goals (scoring + assisting) this season: Suarez 34, Sturridge 23 and Rooney 21.