Fletcher and Rooney in fight to face Liverpool

Wayne Rooney is "desperate" to play on Sunday, but Sir Alex Ferguson still has doubts over the fitness of United's number 10 and his team-mate Darren Fletcher.

Rooney has been struggling with a calf injury and missed the games against Bolton Wanderers and CSKA Moscow in the last week, while Fletcher was also absent for both matches with a foot injury.

"On the injury front I can't give a clear picture, there are still some doubts about Rooney and Fletcher," Sir Alex said on Friday.

Getting the influential pair ready for Anfield is now the main aim for United's medical and coaching staff, though Sir Alex doesn't doubt their eagerness to return.

"He is always desperate to play, that's the nature of the boy," said the boss. "Of course, you can't let that cloud the realistic side of things. It's going to be important how he does in training on Saturday.

"We'll see if Wayne does train on Saturday and then we'll have a better idea."

The good news for United is that Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs have both been passed fit after remaining in Manchester while the rest of the squad travelled to Russia, but Ji-sung Park has definitely been ruled out.

Written by Paul Grippo, a 'Crazy' United fan.

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United on top of Premier League as Liverpool flop

Manchester United regained top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Saturday as Liverpool's title bid suffered a potentially fatal blow.

Reigning champions United ended the day a point ahead of Chelsea, who started the weekend in first place but were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in Saturday's early kick-off.

Liverpool's quest for a first top-flight title since 1990 could now be over after a 1-0 loss away to Sunderland - their fourth league defeat in nine games, twice as many as they suffered in the whole of last season.

Tottenham remained third as former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp saw his current side hang on to beat the basement club 2-1 in a Fratton Park match where both sides finished a man down.

Spurs's north London rivals Arsenal moved into the top four with a 3-1 win at home to Birmingham.

Manchester United went ahead in the fifth minute when Bolton defender Zat Knight put through his own net after Patrice Evra's cross was flicked on by Michael Owen.

They doubled their lead when Antonio Valencia turned in Gary Neville's cross at the near post to score his first United goal since his pre-season move from Wigan.

Matthew Taylor's header 15 minutes from time gave Bolton hope.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We had a lot of opportunities to finish the game and, when that happens, 2-0 leads are not particularly great. And when Bolton scored it was backs to the wall stuff and there was a bit of panic."

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was frustrated after setpiece errors cost his side dear at Villa Park.

They took a 15th minute lead when Didier Drogba's long-range shot bounced awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

But Villa levelled before the break when a poor header by England midfielder Frank Lampard allowed Richard Dunne to equalise from a corner.

Early in the second-half Villa again made Chelsea pay at a corner when James Collins rose highest to head the hosts back into the lead.

"We lost this game because there were two setplays from which Aston Villa scored two goals," said Ancelotti. "We need to be more focused in these situations."

Sunderland took the lead against Liverpool in extraordinary fashion at the Stadium of Light when striker Darren Bent's fifth minute shot hit a stray beachball on its way past Pepe Reina.

Liverpool, without injured stars Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, then survived seeing Bent glance a header just wide before the striker hit the post with an angled shot.

The match ended with tempers boiling over with rival managers Rafael Benitez and Steve Bruce exchanging angry words.

"We didn't play well enough to have bad luck," Benitez admitted. "We need to improve the performance of the team. They worked hard against a physical team but we have to play better."

Redknapp saw Spurs go ahead in the 29th minute when Niko Kranjcar - one of several former Portsmouth players in Spurs's line-up - crossed for Ledley King to head home.

Before the break they were 2-0 up when Pompey old boy Jermain Defoe turned in Jermaine Jenas's cross.

But in a twist former Spurs midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng fired home for Pompey from close range just before the hour and shortly afterwards Tottenham were down to 10-men when Defoe was red-carded for lashing out at South Africa's Aaron Mokoena.

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes preserved Spurs's lead before Pompey's Michael Brown was sent-off just before the finish for a second yellow card.

"I felt people were disrespectful to the Portsmouth fans, talking about how they were going to behave," said Redknapp. "They were absolutely fantastic.

"We rode our luck and I was very disappointed with the way Jermain Defoe reacted."

At the Emirates, goals from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby gave Arsenal an early lead before Lee Bowyer pulled one back for Birmingham.

Andrei Arshavin sealed Arsenal's victory six minutes from time.

In other games, Stoke beat West Ham 2-1 while Everton and Wolves drew 1-1.

James Beattie put Stoke ahead from the penalty-spot at the Britannia Stadium, but second-bottom West Ham levelled before the break when Matthew Upson headed in a corner.

Beattie restored Stoke's lead when Rob Green could only parry Ricardo Fuller's shot.

There was deadlock at Goodison Park until the 76th minute Kevin Doyle put Wolves in front.

But the visitors were denied a valuable victory when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov equalised two minutes from time before Wolves's Stefan Maierhofer was sent-off.

Blackburn Rovers play arch-rivals Burnley on Sunday when Manchester City face Wigan.

Source here (With some pictures)

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Rooney out but Owen and Van der Sar return

Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of Bolton's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday but Edwin van der Sar and Michael Owen will both be involved.

Sir Alex confirmed on Friday morning that Rooney will miss the fixture with a calf injury sustained on international duty.

"Rooney's definitely out... but I certainly hope he'll be fit for Liverpool [next Sunday]. Because it's a calf strain we know how difficult these things can be."

That disappointment is offset by Michael Owen's recovery from a groin strain and van der Sar's return between the posts.

"Edwin's fit and he will play," Sir Alex said. "He played for the Reserves about 10 days ago and came through that fine – it was a confidence booster. He's trained for a while now but because it was a hand injury, you don't take any chances."

United's only other concern surrounds Darren Fletcher. The midfielder picked up an injury while training with Scotland in the recent international break.

"I think everyone else is okay," the manager said. "There are one or two bumps and bruises but nothing serious. And after the disappointment of Sunderland, this is an important game for us."

Written by Paul Grippo, a 'Crazy' United fan.

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Boss ponders midfield options

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has a growing dilemma of who to select in central midfield as he prepares for Saturday's match against Sunderland.

There is now an embarrassment of riches in the centre of the park for the Reds. Against Wolfsburg on Wednesday night, the rapidly improving Anderson and winning goalscorer Michael Carrick matched the standard set by Darren Fletcherand Paul Scholes in the previous victory at Stoke City. With Ryan Giggs rolling back the years, Owen Hargreaves nearing a return and Darron Gibson showing great promise, Sir Alex has a problem, albeit "a good one”.

“Our two central midfielders – Carrick and Anderson – were fantastic against Wolfsburg,” Sir Alex said on Friday.

“Michael (Carrick) knows himself he's not a quick starter. But we got some juice (rain) on the ground on Wednesday night and he seemed to revel in that. His form is coming right. I thought he was fantastic and I was really pleased for him.

"Anderson impressed me too - his form in the last few weeks has been top, he’s looked very, very good - and I thought Fletcher and Scholes were outstanding at Stoke. It is giving me a real headache."

Source: RedView

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