Manchester United v Liverpool: Squad sheets - The Guardian

Liverpool have not won a single game this season when they have faced teams from the top half of the table, losing five and drawing five. They are, however, in decent form as they prepare to renew hostilities with the Premier League leaders and a match that pits together the two most formidable strikers in the top division, Robin van Persie versus Luis Suárez. Wayne Rooney is still injured, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, while Daniel Sturridge is on standby for his first league appearance for Liverpool since signing from Chelsea. Sturridge, one imagines, has already endeared himself to his new club by describing them as the biggest in English football. Yet the two sides begin with a 21-point difference in United's favour. Daniel Taylor

Venue Old Trafford, Sunday 1.30pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Man Utd 2 Liverpool 1

Referee Howard Webb

This season's matches 16 Y57, R2, 3.69 cards per game

Manchester United v Liverpool: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic

Odds Man Utd 5-6 Liverpool 3-1 Draw 14-5

Manchester United

Subs from Johnstone, Lindegaard, Jones, Ferdinand, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernández, Welbeck, Scholes, Powell, Fletcher, Macheda, Buttner, Nani

Doubtful Jones (knock)

Injured Rooney (knee, 19 Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWDWW

Disciplinary record Y35 R0

Leading scorer Van Persie 16

Liverpool

Subs from Doni, Jones, Assaidi, Coates, Pacheco, Henderson, Sturridge, Carragher, Allen, Borini, Suso, Flanagan, Robinson

Doubtful Borini (ankle)

Injured José Enrique (hamstring Feb), Kelly (knee, Mar)

Suspended None

Form guide WWLWLW

Disciplinary record Y27 R2

Leading scorer Suárez 15

Match pointers

• Liverpool have had 412 shots at goal compared to United's 333, but have scored 20 goals fewer

• United are the only side in the Premier League not to drop any points from a winning position at home in 2012-13

• Steven Gerrard has eight assists so far this season, only one short of his previous best for an entire campaign

• If selected, Tom Cleverley will be making his 50th Premier League appearance

• Luis Suárez has scored Liverpool's earliest (1min 7sec) and latest (91min 33sec) goals in the top flight this season

• Only Liverpool against Everton (20) has produced more red cards in Premier League history than United versus Liverpool (14)