The sign above the players' tunnel may read 'This is Anfield' but Manchester United FC will need no reminding of where they are as they prepare to take on their great rivals Liverpool FC on Saturday.

Highest tally
United are enjoying a remarkable season, which finds them on top of the Premiership table with a club record tally of 69 points from 28 matches and well-placed to land their ninth Premiership title in 15 years. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are nine points clear of second-placed Chelsea FC and, although they have already played a game more than the champions, the psychological impact of beating their fiercest rivals at Anfield, coupled with a provisional 12-point Premiership lead, cannot be overstated.

Purple patch
Liverpool, though, are enjoying something of a purple patch themselves, having won five of their last seven matches. That sequence has included successes against Chelsea and FC Barcelona and the Reds can also take comfort from an undefeated run of 30 league matches at home. Rafael Benítez's side will also recall that the last time United visited, just over a year ago, Liverpool were 1-0 winners, Peter Crouch's goal proving enough to guide them into last eight of the FA Cup they went on to win.

Extra motivation
Captain Steven Gerrard, who was in the last Liverpool team to defeat United in the Premiership at Anfield in November 2001, said: "Although there are only three points at stake, the game means that extra bit more and we would love to get three points from it." Gerrard shone as Liverpool overran Sheffield United FC 4-0 last weekend while United made heavy weather of their 2-1 victory at Fulham FC, Cristiano Ronaldo coming to the rescue with a winner three minutes from time.

Reading win
Ronaldo has been irrepressible this season, scoring 16 goals, and impressing with his lethal combination of pace, power and dazzling ball skills. "At this moment he's the best player in the world," said team-mate Wayne Rooney. United almost squandered a three-goal lead against Reading FC in an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Tuesday, prompting some to suggest that the league leaders are vulnerable, but Gerrard is not taking any comfort from the performance of an under-strength side. "You have to admire the way that they are playing at the moment," he said. "They're defending really well and that's what people forget."

'Never say die'
One of the mainstays of that defence, England centre-back Rio Ferdinand, knows that only too well, and with confidence high they could be mounting their assault on fortress Anfield at just the right time. "We've got a never-say-die attitude and even if we're drawing or losing a match we always feel we can create chances," said the man who scored the second goal when United beat Liverpool 2-0 at Old Trafford in November. If they can convert a few of those chances on Saturday, the title could be all but won.

Eufa.com

Liverpool - Substitute John O'Shea hit a dramatic stoppage-time winner as 10-man Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to take a huge step towards securing the Premiership title on Saturday.

Former England midfielder Paul Scholes was shown the red card five minutes from time by referee Martin Atkinson after aiming a punch at Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso.

But Ireland international O'Shea pounced unmarked in the first minute of stoppage time after a free-kick by Cristiano Ronaldo to give Sir Alex Ferguson's leaders a crunch victory.

United had failed for long periods to produce the form which has taken them top of the summit yet they were denied what looked a certain penalty when Daniel Agger brought down French substitute Louis Saha in the 78th minute.

In addition they lost Wayne Rooney to injury after he was involved in a crunching challenge with England team-mate Jamie Carragher which has left the striker doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League tie with Lille on Wednesday.

With Barcelona coming to Merseyside in the Champions League on Tuesday, desperate to overturn Liverpool's 2-1 first-leg lead, Benitez had more reasons than ever to indulge in the kind of rotation that frustrates many of the club's supporters.

He made 99 consecutive team changes up until last October and many feel the early-season tinkering was partly to blame for a lack of consistency that meant his team's Premiership title challenge was over before it had begun, with Liverpool suffering five of their seven league defeats to date before mid-November, all away from home.

But these are not normal circumstances and, with Steven Gerrard having expressed his disgust at the idea of United "virtually" securing the title at Anfield, the Spaniard was in no mood to play into Ferguson's hands.

Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy were all restored to the starting line-up, but there was no place for Javier Mascherano, the Argentinian, in Benitez's 16 man squad.

Bellamy had an effort ruled out for off-side
The return of those key players created the desired effect as the hosts made the brighter start with Agger going close from distance while Chile international Mark Gonzalez forced the game's first save after connecting with Steve Finnan's 16th minute cross.

Jose Reina did not have a save to make in a scrappy first-half although Ronaldo, with 16 Premiership goals to his name already this season, was threatening in spells and blazed his side's best chance before the break over the bar in the 23rd minute after good work by Henrik Larsson.

Liverpool continued to carve out the better chances in a fixture regarded as one of the most fiercely contested in the English calendar.

John Arne Riise, one of the goal heroes in Barcelona in February, almost found the net after letiing fly with another spectacular left-foot effort from 20-yards after good work by the busy Gonzalez in the 27th minute.

United fans had to wait two minutes before half-time for their team's first corner as the leaders struggled to impose themselves and it required a fine save by Edwin van der Sar to keep United level two minutes after the break.

A defence-splitting pass by Kuyt presented Bellamy with the chance of the game but the Welsh international was frustrated by United's Dutch keeper who stuck out a hand to prevent his goal-bound effort from crossing the line.

Moments later Bellamy had an effort ruled out for off-side while Riise went close again during a sustained spell of Liverpool pressure.

United, who had Ryan Giggs making his 700th appearance, were anything but their threatening best and Ferguson's frustration continued when Rooney limped off in the 72nd minute after being injured in a challenge with Carragher.

The game exploded in an amazing finale as Saha was upended by Agger in the 78th minute only for the referee to wave away United's appeals.

Then Scholes was red carded for swinging at (and missing) Alonso before O'Shea had the final say.

IOL