Rio set to miss Anfield trip
Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect Rio Ferdinand to be fit for Manchester United's trip to Liverpool at the weekend.
Ferdinand has been sidelined for the past month with a calf injury suffered in the warm-up prior to United's first defeat of the season at Wolves.
The defender was again absent for United's 2-1 reverse at Chelsea on Tuesday evening and Ferguson had been hoping Ferdinand would be ready to return against Liverpool.
However, speaking following the game at Stamford Bridge, the Red Devils manager expressed his doubts that Ferdinand would be available to face his team's arch-rivals.
With Nemanja Vidic suspended for the trip to Anfield after a late sending-off against Chelsea, and Jonny Evans also injured, Wes Brown is set to partner Chris Smalling on Sunday.
"I don't think Rio will be fit for Liverpool," said Ferguson. "Wes Brown will take over."
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| Team | P | W | D | L | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 52 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 45 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 45 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 44 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 42 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 40 |
| 7 | Everton | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
| 8 | West Brom | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 29 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 27 |
| 10 | Burnley | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 26 |
| 11 | AFC Bournemouth | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 |
| 12 | West Ham | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 |
| 13 | Southampton | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 24 |
| 14 | Watford | 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 23 |
| 15 | Leicester City | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 21 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 20 |
| 17 | Crystal Palace | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 |
| 18 | Hull City | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 15 |
| 20 | Swansea | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 15 |