Welbeck starts for United; Sturridge on bench for Reds

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson sprang a surprise by pairing Danny Welbeck with leading scorer Robin van Persie for the visit of Liverpool.

The two have played only three times together this season, the last coming at QPR on November 24. Ferguson also brought Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand together at the centre of defence for the first time since September as four changes were made in total from the team which won at Wigan in the Barclays Premier League on New Years’ Day.

Liverpool’s one change from the last league outing against Sunderland saw Joe Allen replace Jordan Henderson, meaning new signing Daniel Sturridge was relegated to the bench despite scoring on debut in last weekend’s FA Cup win at Mansfield.

Fellow forward Fabio Borini was also among the substitutes after being sidelined since early October with a broken foot.

Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Kagawa, Welbeck, van Persie.

Subs: Amos, Jones, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez.

Liverpool: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Downing, Gerrard, Allen, Sterling, Suarez. Subs: Jones, Henderson, Sturridge, Carragher, Borini, Shelvey, Robinson.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)