Rio warns of backlash

RIO Ferdinand has issued a warning to his Manchester United team-mates in the build-up to Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.

United currently top the table and will be taking on a Liverpool outfit low on confidence following demoralising defeats in domestic and European football.

But the Reds central defender said: "We all know there is a big rivalry between the two teams, like you see in derbies or FA Cup games.

SIGNIFICANCE

"Form just goes out of the window. It is about who performs best on the day and that is what we will be trying to do."

Ferdinand has also played down the significance of the fixture at this stage of the season, even though a win would lift United 10 points clear of a perceived title rival.

He added: "It is just another game to play. We want to win as many games as we can this season and this is just another one along that way."

United go into Sunday’s match on the back of a solid 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The injured Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Ji-Sung Park missed out on the trip to Russia, but several are expected to be back for Sunday’s match against United’s bitter rivals.

Liverpool, beaten 2-1 at home by Lyon on Tuesday, saw inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard limp out of that match in the first half with a recurrence of a groin injury.

Star striker Fernando Torres has a similar complaint and both players are rated doubtful for the visit of United.

Should one or both miss the game, Liverpool’s chances of victory would be severely compromised, but experienced defender Jamie Carragher is backing his team to raise their game.

He said: "Beating Manchester United could be just the boost we need.

“We always bounce back because that is what we are about.

"We have got a lot of fight and character and will want to show that against United, particularly after what happened against Lyon.

"We are going through a tough patch but we've been through them before and we'll bounce back, there's no doubt about that.

"It's always a great game against United, and that could be what we need – if we win it will give everyone a massive lift."