Anfield's tribute to the victims of Hillsborough and their families' 23-year fight to expose an establishment cover-up demands the focus ahead of Sunday. But there is no denying the significance of what follows to Liverpool and their manager. Brendan Rodgers has yet to win a Premier League game since his switch from Swansea and, for all the signs of improvement, will be hoping United's appearance at Anfield galvanises Liverpool once again. Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a strong side in Europe in midweek, Rodgers rested his senior players, and United are seeking a first league win at Anfield since December 2007. Andy Hunter

Venue Anfield, Sunday 1.30pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Liverpool 1 Man Utd 1

Referee Mark Halsey

This season's matches 1 Y1, R1, 2.00 cards per game

Odds Liverpool 15-8 Man Utd 9-5 Draw 17-7

Liverpool

Subs from Doni, Jones, José Enrique, Carragher, Coates, Henderson, Downing, Assaidi, Morgan, Robinson, Wisdom, Cole, Suso, Flanagan, Sahin

Doubtful Cole (hamstring)

Injured Lucas (thigh, Nov)

Suspended None

Form guide DLDL

Disciplinary record Y9 R1

Leading scorer Suárez 2

Manchester United

Subs from Lindegaard, Evans, Anderson, Giggs, Hernández, Welbeck, Henríquez, Cleverley, Fletcher, Powell, Buttner, Bébé

Doubtful Fletcher (bowel)

Injured Rooney (gashed leg, 29 Sep), Smalling (metatarsal (7 Oct), Young (knee, 7 Oct), Jones (knee, Nov)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWL

Disciplinary record Y4 R0

Leading scorer Van Persie 4

Match pointers

• Only Liverpool against Everton has seen more red cards (20) than Liverpool versus Manchester United (13) in Premier League history

• Robin van Persie has scored four times in his past five appearances against Liverpool

• Liverpool have won just two of their 11 league games at home in 2012

• Nemanja Vidic has been sent off on both of his past two visits to Anfield and three of his four top-flight red cards have come against Liverpool

• Luis Suárez has had more shots off target (12) than any other player in the division

• If selected, Michael Carrick will be making his 350th Premier League appearance