Liverpool

Steven Gerrard is named on the bench for Liverpool, with Daniel Sturridge keeping his place up front.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Sterling, Lallana, Coutinho, Sturridge

Team news should be landing any minute.

Neither Angel Di Maria nor Juan Mata were giving much away as they strode into Anfield.

Both looked decidedly non-plussed.

Image source, Getty Images

Cheers Shamoon,

Liverpool against Manchester United - always a big game, but how long has it been since the two sides met at the business end of a campaign with the same wider aims?

In March 2009, Liverpool won a battle - crushing United 4-1 at Old Trafford - but lost the war, finishing four points behind them in the Premier League.

In May 1996 Eric Cantona's volley decided a pretty dire FA Cup final between the pair.

Otherwise, their spring meeting have tended to be jostles for local pride rather than silverware or league position.

This season both have their sights locked on a top-four finish. And it will be all the sweeter if it comes at the other's expense...

Brazil legend Pele is at Anfield today as a guest of honour, he was making sandwiches earlier in the week, you know.

Anyway, I've given you today's starters, the main meal is coming up.

Mike Henson will be dishing that out over the course of the afternoon, as two footballing giants look to serve up a Premier League classic. Enjoy!

Image source, Getty Images

His last visit to Anfield was alongside his father, Danny, as a 10-year-old, but Daley Blind's trip to Liverpool left a lasting impression on the Manchester United midfielder.

Blind senior, a Champions League-winning captain with Ajax in 1995, secured tickets for a game against Arsenal off a former team-mate, Liverpool's Jari Litmanen.

"It left a great impression on me," United's Blind told Joe Bernstein in the Mail on Sunday., external

"As a young boy from Holland who loved football, I just took everything in. The crowd noise and atmosphere were crazy. It was a special day."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been in excellent form recently, and not just because of his celebrations.

The England man has netted five goals in his last six games in all competitions for the Old Trafford side.

But his record at Anfield against Liverpool is less than impressive, finding the net just once in 10 visits, and that was a decade ago.

Manager Louis van Gaal said: "It's strange, but it can be like this.

"He's a very experienced player, he has played on all the grounds in the world, so I don't think that he shall be influenced by the fans at by the stadium or something like that."

Image source, Daily Star Sunday

Here's something to spice things up. In the Daily Star Sunday, external - and a few other papers - current United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed Liverpool wanted him as manager three years ago, before Brendan Rodgers got the job.

Van Gaal says he had talks with the Merseyside club but could not reach an agreement. "But it's not good for Liverpool - or me - to re-open things that are in the past," he added.

You'd have thought the best way to do that is by not talking about it in the first place...

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler often inflicted pain to Manchester United in his time with the Reds. He is at Anfield today having a good old natter with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Reminiscing over good times, perhaps?

U2's Beautiful Day currently blasting out of the speakers inside Anfield. It really is a beautiful day on Merseyside today. Who will come out on top? Team news will drop at around 12:30 GMT.

Mike from Sandhurst: Games between Finchampstead and Sandhurst Town were always the biggest games of the season...even though we won pretty much every time.

Jonny Dawson: Uni of Birmingham medics hockey club 4th team vs maple bank halls of residence. As captain I had to sub myself off after a particularly cynical trip on their forward. Tempers flared that day...

Rob from London: Dagenham Rovers vs Senrab FC, I played in goal for Rovers, they had John Terry, Bobby Zamora, Ledley King & J-Lloyd Samuel in their side. Needless to say we came second every year. They even poached Paul Konchesky from us!

Keep those tales coming to #GetInspired, external the BBC Sport Facebook, external page or 81111 (UK only). Don't forget to leave your name and where you're from on the texts.

MOTD2 Extra MOTD2 Extra
MOTD2 Extra

Tune in to BBC One from 12:15 for MOTD2 Extra with Mark Chapman.

Mark will be joined in the studio by Alan Shearer, Emile Heskey and Amy Lawrence to discuss all yesterday's big talking points and look ahead to the afternoon's action.

I have just managed to grab a quick word with former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey. The former England international is going for a 2-1 Liverpool win. "Their confidence will see them come out on top. United won't lie down though," he says.

On being a striker in this match, Heskey said: "I relished these matches, they were the ones you wanted to play in as a young lad."

Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick are first into the Manchester United dressing room. The well-coiffured pairing of Falcao and Daley Blind enter together. Can see they've spent time in front of the mirror this morning.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has just entered Anfield, with assistant Colin Pascoe alongside him. The squad follow him up the steps into the changing room kicking with tunes. Captain Steven Gerrard is stern-faced. What does that tell you?

Jason Roberts
Former Blackburn striker on Football Focus

On the news Louis van Gaal was refereeing matches in training this week: "In my experience, it doesn't normally work. I don't think it's ever changed that much in terms of how people approach the game.

"But Van Gaal has some big choices to make in this game. Brendan Rodgers sets his team out in very much the same way each week.

"But there are big decisions for Louis van Gaal. Who does he drop to bring back Di Maria? What shape does he choose to go with to counter any threat from Liverpool?"

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson
Football Focus

"Since that fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December, when Liverpool were the better team but lost 3-0, Brendan Rodgers' side have kicked on.

"They've since changed to three at the back, and that has provided a fantastic foundation, allowing them to play extra attacking players - Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge now all have extra space to play."

Image source, Getty Images

United manager Louis van Gaal is known to be a stickler for detail. Meetings, planning, dossiers, but how has he been preparing his side for today's tough test against Liverpool?

Well, the Dutchman decided to take control of training by being the referee in order to teach his players to control their aggression.

The meeting between the sides has seen 15 red cards being shown, and United players have been dismissed in matches against Manchester City and Arsenal this season.

Nothing wrong with a bit of aggression though.

Scott in Market Harborough: A man known only to me as "Clive" became my sporting nemesis over a couple of years over several sports. His achievements included hitting me for two consecutive sixes then clean bowling me first ball up, nut-megging me (twice) and beating me in a pub quiz. I moved.

JH: Acton Wanderers FC in the late 1970s... The scourge of our schoolmates' Saturday morning Subbuteo league! Always on top... Always winners.... They were the Liverpool of their day!

Oscar in Exeter: Earlier this season our defence got torn apart by a guy wearing a beanie hat. After weeks of working out a plan to deal with him, he still kept scoring. Only team we lost to.

Keep sharing your stories with us via #GetInspired, external, the BBC Sport Facebook, external page and on text to 81111 (UK only).

Manchester United decided to spend big in the summer in an attempt to get back to the top and splashed out a British record £59.7m to bring in Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria.

But the critics have already been out in force for the Argentina international, being dubbed as a flop and someone who hasn't contributed much to the team.

Has he really been that bad though? In comparison to Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho - who has been seen as one of their key men - his statistics don't come out too badly.

Will he be restored to the starting line-up in place of Spaniard Juan Mata, who had a terrific game against Spurs last weekend?

BBC Radio 5 live

Jonathan Overend will have all the build-up to today's Premier League action on 5 live Sport from 12:00 GMT.

Get involved and have your say on the major talking points via 85058 on text or tweet @bbc5live, external