Sir. Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish have called for calm from their supporters today as Liverpool and Manchester United meet for the first time since the furor over the Luis Suarez/Patrice Evra race row, an incident that keeps Suarez out for what now is his seventh game ban (out of eight). Kick-off for the fourth round FA Cup tie at Anfield takes place at 12.45pm.
Team News
Liverpool are just a few days out of their League Cup semi-final victory against Manchester City in midweek and Dalglish will have to see how fit his team are for the early kick-off. The most senior of players such as Craig Bellamy are expected to be rested and not start three games in 7 days. Reports are that he will likely recall Jay Spearing to the first 11 after missing the last three games with hamstring trouble. Manchester United have far more injury concerns and could field without Wayne Rooney (ankle), Rio Ferdinand (back), Phil Jones (ankle) and Nani (foot) who are all doubts. Long term absentees Michael Owen, Tom Cleverly and the recently re-injured Anderson all miss out.
Line-ups from;
Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Adam, Gerrard, Downing, Henderson, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Aurelio, Spearing, Shelvey, Bellamy, Carroll. United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Smalling, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Evans, Fabio, Fryers, Cole, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Park, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Welbeck, Berbatov, Hernandez, Diouf.