Sir Alex Ferguson on the intense rivalry with Liverpool

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted form will play no part in Manchester United's clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. United are in much better shape than their rivals with Ferguson's men on top of the Premier League and well on course for a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. In contrast Liverpool are surrounded by talk of a crisis after a run of four successive defeats which has left them struggling to maintain interest in both competitions. However, Ferguson has faced Liverpool enough times during his long tenure at Old Trafford to know to expect the unexpected. The Scot said: "Manchester United and Liverpool games, as I have said many times, are without question massive games. That will never change." He continued: "In my first derby game with them I got a complete sense of the history of both teams and it hasn't changed. It is still a massive game. It is the game as far as I am concerned, that won't change." Ferguson added: "We are going in in decent form, there is good confidence in our play, but it is a derby game and anything can happen in derby games. "Going to Anfield at any time is a hard game." Wayne Rooney remains a doubt for United as he continues to struggle with the calf injury sustained during England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago. The striker will be assessed on Saturday - his 24th birthday - before a decision is taken on whether to include him in the squad. Ferguson said: "He is always desperate to play. That is the nature of the boy, you won't stop that. "It is important how he does in training tomorrow. If he does train tomorrow we will have a better idea." Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra are both poised to return after suffering knocks against Bolton last week but Darren Fletcher is also doubtful and Park Ji-Sung is definitely out.

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ITN | October 23, 2009

Tags:. .knocks. .changed. .doubtful. .anfield. .rivalry