Ferguson backing Rooney to rock at Anfield

ALEX FERGUSON has predicted Wayne Rooney will bounce back from his Champions League sending off with a performance to remember for all the right reasons at Anfield tomorrow.

Last January, Rooney shrugged off the taunts from Liverpool fans who have despised him since his Everton days by netting the only goal right in front of the Kop. The teenager’s efforts earned him a ton of abuse and a mobile phone, which was thrown at him as he celebrated his matchwinner.

Rooney can expect even more bile tomorrow, with Liverpool fans looking to pressurise the 19-year-old into further indiscretions following his midweek red card against Villarreal.

Ferguson knows his striker has made four trips to Merseyside without a problem since he signed from Everton 13 months’ ago. And the Scot is confident Rooney will restrict himself to showing off his immense talent.

“Wayne will put in a performance on Sunday,” Ferguson said. “All season, his performances have been fantastic for us.”

In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s dismissal, Ferguson refused the opportunity to condemn Rooney outright, although it has been reported the Scot launched a particularly fearsome ‘hairdryer’ blast once the dressing-room door had been closed.

There have been plenty of critics lining up to offer their opinions on Rooney’s latest explosion, which came just seven days after his four-letter tirade at England skipper David Beckham in Belfast.

Ferguson is not surprised at the attention Rooney’s behaviour has attracted. But for the United boss, the issue is no longer a matter for public debate.

“Wayne is a high-profile player, so I am not surprised at the attention. It happened with George Best, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham. It is the way of the world. We have experience of these situations and we will handle it.”

After such a major fall from grace, there could be few more intense places for Rooney to test his temperament than Anfield.

Such is the rivalry between Liverpool and United, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be intimidating even without the addition of a fiery Evertonian to the mixture.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez chooses his words very careful when it comes to Rooney.

Asked to compare him with other great young world talents, Benitez said: “I do not like to talk about players of other teams, only to talk well of them. As for Rooney, he is a very good player.

“I have seen many young players maybe as good as Rooney. I used to coach Real Madrid’s youth teams and I had Raul with me at a very young age, he was exceptional too.

“The difference between players is not the quality or the ability of the players, it is their mentality. I recall Raul working really hard in every training session and during the games.

“He also showed a lot of control over the pressures that come with being a young player, from the newspapers and the TV.

“But all top young players have that pressure, they are always in the headlines and it is handling it that is important.”

Benitez is in confident mood ahead of United’s visit and he added: “We are in good form, after the draw with Spurs we had three clean sheets which was much better than last season and I have watched the video of the Real Betis game and know that in the first half we were fantastic.

“I do not normally say such things about my team, but we made very few mistakes and played really well as a team.

“With this kind of performance we have confidence we can beat any team. Manchester United are a big team but we can beat them, especially at home.”

Liverpool will have Steven Gerrard back in the starting line-up after his ‘rest’ against Betis on Tuesday, and although Benitez tries to play down the overall significance of a clash with United, he knows how vital it is to chalk up his first victory over the Old Trafford men.

He added: “We know how difficult it will be, but we will do our best to win.

“When it comes then to playing Arsenal and Chelsea, who can say how close we will be.

“They know it is always going to be difficult for them coming to Anfield, so when you beat the best teams nothing seems impossible.

“When people talk of the 19-point gap between ourselves and United last season and the 37 points between us and Chelsea, there is an immediate way to cut it. You can stop your rivals taking points and claim them yourself. The gap then comes down very quickly, that is why when you play big clubs you must win to show your quality.”

United can claim bragging rights over the last few years at least. Rooney’s strike sealed a record third successive win at Anfield, although the chances of a fourth have been badly hampered by injury.

With Roy Keane and Gary Neville already missing, the visitors will also have to do without full-back Gabriel Heinze following the news he suffered cruciate ligament damage during an innocuous first-half collision in Spain.

Heinze’s absence is a body blow to Ferguson as, with Quinton Fortune also sidelined, Phil Neville sold to Everton and John O’Shea required to cover Neville’s absence, Kieran Richardson is the only alternative.