Despite a planned protest against the owners before the match, there will be a show of unity and determination at Anfield tomorrow once the game begins. Inside the stadium the fans' efforts will be directed solely against Manchester United. Liverpool did beat these opponents twice in the league last season, but the club looks to be in a decline steepened by injuries. United, in contrast, should be able to field a stronger line-up than the one that beat CSKA Moscow in Russia on Wednesday. Kevin McCarra

Venue Anfield Tickets Sold out Last season Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1 Referee A Marriner

This season's matches 6 Y20, R1, 3.50 cards per game

sportingbet odds Liverpool 7-4 Man Utd 7-5 Draw 21-10

Liverpool

Subs from Cavalieri, Gerrard, Babel, Skrtel, Voronin, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Plessis, Dossena, Ayala

Doubtful Johnson (groin), Torres (groin), Gerrard (groin)

Injured Aquilani (ankle, 31 Oct), Riera (hamstring, 31 Oct), Kyrgiakos (knee, 31 Oct), El Zhar (hamstring, 31 Oct), Kelly (ankle, 9 Nov)

Form guide LLWWWW Disciplinary record Y13 R0

Leading scorer Torres 8

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Welbeck, Brown, Fletcher, Evans, Neville, Gibson, Scholes, Carrick, Macheda, Tosic, Rafael, Fabio, Obertan

Doubtful Fletcher (groin), Rooney (calf),

Evra (ankle), Giggs (thigh)

Injured Park (knee, Oct 31), Hargreaves (knee, Nov 3)

Suspended None

Form guide WDWWWW Disciplinary record Y14 R1

Leading scorer Rooney 6

Match pointers

• This will be Rafa Benítez's 200th league game in charge of Liverpool – if his side lose it will be the first time they have lost three league games in a row during his reign

• United have lost one of their last seven league trips to Anfield

• The last five league meetings between these sides in Liverpool have resulted in a a total of six goals, three of them in last season's match

• United have delivered the most crosses this season (232) but Liverpool have played the most successful crosses (55)