Benitez confident ahead of United game

Rafael Benitez chose his words very careful when it comes to Wayne Rooney, the young Merseysider who will arrive at Anfield on Sunday with more than a point to prove after a week which has seen him sent off in the Champions League and suffer criticism and pressure from all sides.

Rooney, who scored the winner last season when Manchester United completed the double over Benitez’s Liverpool at Anfield, is once again the shadow hanging over the European champions.