LONDON (AP): Under normal circumstances any side fresh from a 4-0 win over Real Madrid would be considered hot favorites for their next match, but third-placed Liverpool go into Saturday's Premier League showdown at Manchester United seven points behind the leaders, having played a game more.
Liverpool prepared for one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the season with an overpowering display against Real in the Champions League at Anfield Tuesday, but their spluttering domestic form and an over-reliance on striker Fernando Torres and midfielder Steven Gerrard means United start as clear favorites.
United's prosaic progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Wednesday may work against Liverpool. Manager Alex Ferguson was incensed by the way senior players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes squandered possession against the Italians and Liverpool can expect a reaction at Old Trafford.
``It was really reckless football and it allowed Inter Milan to get a grip of the game,'' Ferguson said. ``From the middle of the first half to the end of the first half they (Inter) were the better team.''
Nemanja Vidic, scorer of United's first goal, admitted the performance had been flawed.
``We're at home in front of our crowd and I hope we are going to be much better than we were against Inter,'' Vidic said. ``We will definitely try to improve, to erase the mistakes we made and play better against Liverpool.''
Liverpool have taken four points from their last three league games, but they should at least provide United with a stiffer test than they did in the corresponding fixture last season, when they slipped to a 3-0 defeat after Javier Mascherano was sent off.
Torres and Gerrard have scored 17 league goals between them this season, while the rest of the squad have combined for just 25.
Both should be fit, although Torres needed a painkilling injection to play against Madrid. ``I feel good,'' he said. ``My ankle felt a little painful in the second half against Real, but that doesn't matter for a match like this.''
``We will work hard on the injury and train hard and I think I will be 100 percent for Saturday. It is a massive game that I hope to win because that will give us more chances in the league. We know it's very important to win there, if not they will be many points ahead.''
Chelsea, second ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, hosts Manchester City on Sunday, looking for a fourth consecutive league win under temporary manager Guus Hiddink. Striker Didier Drogba's form has revived under Hiddink, but the key to the rest of their season could be the return from injury of Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, who marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal in the Blues' 2-2 Champions League draw at Juventus on Tuesday.
City's Brazil striker Robinho, openly courted by Chelsea last summer, should be fit for the game at Stamford Bridge provided he emerges unscathed from Thursday's UEFA cup tie with Aalborg.
Aston Villa face Tottenham Sunday looking to halt a slump in form that threatens their hold on fourth place and with it the final Champions League qualification spot.
Villa have gone six games, in all competitions, without a win, but manager Martin O'Neill says his side are rejuvenated, after a short break in Dubai.
``We have trained and enjoyed some sun,'' he said. ``The players now feel refreshed. It was vital to regroup, get ourselves together again and now we want to go out and win some games.''
Fifth-placed Arsenal is three points behind Villa and hosts Blackburn on Saturday, less than 72 hours after its victory on penalties over Roma.
The Gunners will recall Andrei Arshavin, who was ineligible for the Roma tie.
Blackburn's confidence was boosted when they climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Fulham on Wednesday.
``It's a huge relief from a mental point of view,'' manager Sam Allardyce said. ``Continuing to see yourselves in the bottom three doesn't help, even though you tell the players 'You can't look at the papers, stay away from them'.''
There are two games between teams struggling to avoid relegation. Middlesbrough, 19th, hosts Portsmouth, which is one place and two points above them in the table. Newcastle, which is above Portsmouth on goal difference, travels to Hull, four points ahead of them.
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