United are revved up

MANCHESTER United will be revved up for their big clash at Anfield on Sunday says defender Chris Smalling.

United are sixth in the Barclays Premier League table.

For Smalling, completing a coveted double over the club’s historic Merseyside rivals, following on from the 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in September, is a must to keep up the pace near the top.

“In recent times we’ve done very well against them,” Smalling said. “Obviously this year at Old Trafford and last season we’ve got very good results, so we’re very confident of going there and causing them a problem.

Louis van Gaal’s side let slip 2-0 and 3-2 leads at St James’ Park on Tuesday night against a Newcastle outfit struggling at the wrong end of the table. Smalling admitted there was a strong sense of an opportunity missed.

“If you came into the changing rooms after the match, it was like we’d lost the game,” Smalling said.

“We put ourselves in such a good position and we could have finished it a little bit earlier. They’re key times in the game and we need to make sure we're switched on.”