By Ben James Oct 22, 2009, 8:36 GMT
London - All eyes will be on Anfield this weekend as a struggling Liverpool side host champions Manchester United in a match that could be crucial to the rest of the home side's season.
Seven points behind leaders United, Liverpool have lost their past four games, their worst run for 22 years, and have a host of injuries going into the clash with the champions,
Even after just nine games, Sunday's encounter takes on huge significance for a Liverpool side who are sweating on the fitness of their two talismen, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Both men missed the defeat by Sunderland last weekend and Gerrard played only 25 minutes of the 2-1 loss at home to Lyon in the Champions League in midweek.
Manager Rafael Benitez has been assured his job is not in any immediate danger but the Spaniard will be desperate to get his two best players on the pitch against United.
Liverpool actually beat United last season without either Gerrard or Torres, but with other injury problems mounting up, he knows that another defeat would put them 10 points behind United - a deficit they can ill afford as they chase their first league title since 1990.
Defender Jamie Carragher admits that they are struggling for confidence, but said United can expect a big response on Sunday.
We've got a lot of fight and character and will want to show that against United, particularly after what happened against Lyon,' he said. 'We're 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.'
Glen Johnson is expected to return after missing the Lyon game through injury, while Benitez will give Gerrard and Torres every chance to take their places.
United, one point clear of Chelsea at the top, have a few injury doubts of their own, with Wayne Roney, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher among those struggling to be fit.
'We're fighting to get Wayne ready,' manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. 'It's a bit of an uphill fight but we're trying. With Giggs it's difficult to say with the injury he has.
'Fletcher's a slight doubt. He picked up a knock on international duty. But we hope to get the main players ready for Sunday because it's a big game.'
Patrice Evra will return to the side, while Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes are also available despite going off early in the Champions League win at CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, a decision Ferguson said he had taken with a view to the Liverpool game.
Chelsea can go top, for 24 hours at least, if they beat Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, while third-placed Tottenham Hotspur could join United on 22 points with victory at home to Stoke City.
Arsenal, four points off the lead, face a London derby at West Ham on Sunday while fifth-placed Manchester City, a point further back, host Fulham the same day.
Bottom side Portsmouth travel to fellow strugglers Hull City, while Birmingham City host Sunderland, Burnley play Wigan Athletic, Everton are at Bolton and Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Aston Villa in a Midlands derby.
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