Smith Set For Return

Alan Smith is winning his battle to return in Manchester United's midfield for Sunday's eagerly-awaited Premiership match at home to Liverpool.

Smith has been struggling with an ankle problem in recent weeks but is expected to train on Saturday and will come into consideration to face Rafael Benitez's men.

Nemanja Vidic may finally earn his debut after Sir Alex Ferguson opted not to include him in the squad that beat Burton on Wednesday.

Paul Scholes (blurred vision) and Park Ji-sung (knee) are definitely out - as is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is serving a three-match ban.

Man United (from): Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Richardson, Smith, Fletcher, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Saha, Rossi.

Liverpool will be without Jan Kromkamp, Daniel Agger and Luis Garcia. Dutchman Bolo Zenden is a longer term absentee as he recovers from knee surgery.




Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Warnock, Traore, Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes, Sinama Pongolle, Crouch, Kromkamp, Agger, Carson.