Smith may return

Alex Ferguson hopes to have Alan Smith back in Manchester United’s midfield for Sunday’s eagerly-awaited Barclays Premiership match at home to Liverpool.

Smith has been struggling with an ankle problem in recent weeks but is expected to train tomorrow and will come into consideration to face Rafael Benitez’s men.

Paul Scholes (blurred vision) and Park Ji-sung (knee) are definitely out – as is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is serving a three-match ban.

Provisional squad: Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Richardson, Smith, Fletcher, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Saha, Rossi.