Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could be without Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand and Nani for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield.

Rooney, Jones and Nani picked up ankle knocks during Sunday's Premier League victory away to Arsenal, while Ferdinand expected to play in that match but was ruled out with a recurrence of a back problem.

Reports on Friday suggest that Rooney has been unable to take part in training all week - although his problem is not expected to rule him out of action in the long-term.

United have struggled with injuries all season: Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley are both thought to be at least a week away from returning, Anderson is sidelined for a fortnight and Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic are out for the season.

Meanwhile, Ferguson called on both sets of fans to keep a lid on their tempers ahead of the potentially explosive clash at Anfield. "It's a massive game for both clubs," he said. "There's a tremendous profile around it. Steven Gerrard said it's the responsibility of the players to behave properly and I expect my players to. And also the fans. Both sets of fans need to make sure we're talking about the game and nothing else."

Manchester: Alex Ferguson has fired a warning to his Manchester United squad that the club will be "dead" if any player becomes more important than him.

The Scot's 25 years in charge have seen many big players leave the club after falling out with the manager, including Jaap Stam and David Beckham.

And Ferguson has recently had to shrug off rumours of a private falling out between him and star striker Wayne Rooney, after the England forward was fined over the festive period for breaking a curfew.

The legendary boss remains as keen as ever to stamp his authority at Old Trafford and believes that a managerial reign as long as his will never be repeated.

“I said it to the directors 15 years ago, maybe more than 15 years ago: You have to remember that the most important person at Manchester United is the manager," the United boss was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“The minute a footballer becomes more important than the manager, your club is dead - the history of this club goes down the drain. I am the most important man at Manchester United. It has to be that way.”

Ferguson said he had a “great relationship” with the Glazer family, despite the owners' having alienated many supporters.

“They never bother me. They never ask questions, they never phone me and they never interfere with my job. I am in a privileged position,” he said.

Managers have much shorter reigns at clubs in the modern game and the Scot believes that a spell in charge like his own will not be repeated.

He also admitted that he has had to adapt to the ever-changing football landscape during his time in charge at Old Trafford.

“I don’t think anyone else will (stay at a club for 25 years), I’m a phenomenon,” said Ferguson.

“I have certainly mellowed. There’s no question about that. It’s a more fragile human being that I’m dealing with today than 25 years ago,” he added. “They are cocooned by modern ideas, modern parents, modern agents, and their own image at times. It’s a different world for me, so I have to change myself to adapt to that. I have changed because of these things.”

Lindy
Rafeal Evans Smalling Paddy
Valencia Carrick Pogba Giggs
Ravel
Welbeck

Make it happen

Lindy
Rafeal Evans Smalling Paddy
Valencia Carrick Pogba Giggs
Ravel
Welbeck

Make it happen

Paul Scholes has admitted he missed playing for Manchester United 'more than he thought' following his retirement U-turn earlier this month.

The 37-year-old has signed a deal that runs until the end of the season and has made three appearances for United since going back on his decision to quit football last summer.

Scholes conceded his day-to-day involvement at United, which included training with the reserve side, fuelled his desire to return to playing.

"I missed it more than I thought. At the end of last season, I thought it was the right time to finish," Scholes told MUTV.

"Ask any player who has finished, they will all miss it for a period of time. I missed it and decided to give it another go."

"After coming in to Carrington for the last three or four months and still seeing people and still doing a bit of training with the reserves, I was missing it more than I thought I would."

Scholes also felt his decision to return hinged on the thoughts of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but the midfielder was buoyed by the United boss' response when he revealed his intentions.

"I went to see the manager and said that I wanted to come back playing. I didn't know what he would say. I didn't know what his reaction would be. Thankfully, it was a positive one," he said.

"It's nice to be back. The first two or three days took a bit of getting used to but I'm back into it now and enjoying every day."

Pleased for him and it is good for the club he is back playing again:).

To be expected really where missing a host of key players and AGAIN Paddy and his poor D cost us

Oh gawd I feel sick losing to that vile lot:(.

We've got them in the league soon at Old Trafford, hopefully we can get a win to keep up our campaign and put a further dent in their slim chances of finishing 4th;).

Thank goodness that wasn't the line up.

Ryan im sorry I thought we lost today and barely created a chance my bad

So the inexperience of Pogba and Morrison would of seen us win?

Maybe it's just me who believes experience is pivotal.

We lost the game.

We got knocked out of the champs league in the easiest group and on course to win NO trophies but still we have experience

We lost the game.

We got knocked out of the champs league in the easiest group and on course to win NO trophies but still we have experience

How im feeling right now...

http://awesomegifs.com/wp-content/up...n-drinking.gif

United are still in the title race. Also there's the Europa League.

No doubt if we win the league you and rest will be praising the team to high heaven.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ning-blow.html

SAF labels yesterdays loss as a sickening blow...

ha

Nani and Wayne Rooney might be fit for next Sunday's match at Chelsea.

Anderson and Ashley Young expected to be back in training this week.

Tom Cleverley apparently 2 weeks away before returning, although SAF has sprung surprises before...

Manchester United have agreed to send a team to play against an Irish League XI for Harry Gregg's testimonial in May.

Gregg survived the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 and won widespread praise for his bravery after staying with the burning plane to help passengers to safety.

Now 79, the former Northern Ireland international had a 10-year stint with the Red Devils, making 247 appearances.

A £23,000 arrival from Doncaster in 1957, his only honour was an FA Cup runners-up medal in the emotional defeat to Bolton in 1958, just after the tragedy. Gregg missed the win over Leicester five years later due to injury.

Although there has been no official announcement, it is anticipated Gregg's game will take place at Windsor Park on May 15.

Good news, should be a great match and atmosphere to pay tribute to him:).

Preview for United's game at Old Trafford vs Stoke City tomorrow:).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16695910.stm

Rooney and Nani hopefully back for Sunday. Ferdinand probably will be back tomorrow and Phil Jones is not being rushed with his injury, so won't be involved.

Please don't play De Gea Fergie

Roy Keane has weighed in on the debate surrounding David de Gea's recent performances, with the Manchester United legend admitting that of the goals conceded so far, he believes some of them have been 'shocking' at the hands of the keeper.

De Gea made the move to Old Trafford last summer for a reported fee of £17.8 million. The stopper was always aware that pressure would be high to provide an apt replacement for the retired Edwin van der Sar, and at just 20 years old at the time, it was expected that he would take some time to adapt to the Premier League.

And though De Gea has shown moments of brilliance that prove why Ferguson saw him as a top signing this season, the youngster has also made mistakes that have proven costly for United. And Saturday was yet another example of goalkeeping mistakes being lethal for the Red Devils as they lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Liverpool.

Keane believes that De Gea's performances will be very unsettling for rest of the United squad, with his position particularly important as the side push to take pole position from Manchester City.

"De Gea looked a bit nervous," Keane said after the Liverpool game, as reported by Manchester Evening News.

"When you have a nervous goalkeeper it can go through the whole team. He looked really nervous.

"He has to stick his chest out and say, I am number one today, I am going to produce a big performance.

"Goalkeeper is the most important position at Manchester United. That is why United got Edwin van der Sar at 34. United are missing that experience and presence.

"United will be kicking themselves. They have conceded shocking goals.

"You work all week on your tactics and your team shape. It was a direct kick (for the winner). Carroll is 6ft 4in, you expect him to win the header but Patrice Evra should smell the danger.

"I think he gets caught out in a lot of the bigger games. He should tuck in. He has let Kuyt get the wrong side of him. I bet the boy couldn't believe his luck."

It seems every pundit in English football has at some point turned on De Gea this season, though Ferguson has proven his critics wrong by having faith in his youngsters many times before.

And though Keane believes the squad might be unsettled, Michael Owen has lept to de Gea's defence on Twitter, insisting that the United players are behind their young keeper and believe he will become more consistent as time goes on.

"Don't agree with all this negativity towards De Gea," Owen wrote.

"Admittedly he has made a couple of mistakes this season but listening to some people you would think he had a nightmare. I'm not having either goal was his fault.

"The problem is, once you get labelled, mud sticks and now any tiny mistake is magnified. Other keepers make similar mistakes and nothing gets said.

"The ball was on the six-yard box for the first goal. He has to go for it. He also needs to watch the flight of the ball.

"There are then six players in front of him. There is nothing he could do. In my opinion two bad goals to give away but to blame everything on the keeper is totally wrong. The lad will be a top keeper, he is only young.

"Harsh to blame him for everything. The fans know he needs their support, his confidence needs boosting. I'm sure he will repay that support for years to come."

With that in mind, De Gea's performance against Stoke this weekend will be closely watched, with the game a must win for the club to stay in close hunt for the title.

I think the last thing Fergie would do against Stoke is play De Gea

Although Lindegaard doesn't strike me as being very confident in the air either

Yeah but Lindegaard can catch a ball.

Lindegaard has an injury apparently so DDG will be playing tomorrow..

It seems Ravel Morrison is leaving Utd to join West Ham on loan, if true it could be a positive move for the lad if he keeps himself out of trouble but he is out of contract in the Summer and it'll be up to United then what to do next...