Ferdinand a doubt for Reds visit

Rio Ferdinand is doubtful for Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday but Edwin van der Sar could feature.

The pair have both missed United’s last two matches, defender Ferdinand with a back problem and goalkeeper Van der Sar with a groin injury.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson was due to assess both players in training today, along with striker Louis Saha.

The Frenchman sustained a knock in Wednesday’s defeat of Bolton but is expected to be fit.

Spanish defender Gerard Pique could continue in Ferdinand’s absence.

England full-back Gary Neville, who has been out for a year with groin and ankle problems, is close to a return after another run-out for the reserves yesterday.

Provisional squad: Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Pique, Vidic, O’Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Saha, Tevez, Brown, Scholes, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Evra, Ferdinand, Kuszczak, Foster.