Gerrard out as Rooney starts for United

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard missed the Anfield clash against Manchester United due to his groin problem but Wayne Rooney recovered from a calf injury to line up for the opposition.

Liverpool had Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson back after they missed the Champions League defeat by Lyon on Tuesday, with Martin Kelly (ankle) and David Ngog – who was dropped to the bench – dropping out.

The home side were looking to halt a run of four straight defeats.

Manchester United also had Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick back in their starting line-up for the Barclays Premier League clash. Michael Owen, returning to his former club, was on the bench.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt, Aurelio, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Skrtel.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.

Subs: Foster, Neville, Owen, Anderson, Nani, Fabio Da Silva, Jonathan Evans.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)