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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ferdinand backs Rooney to shine | Ferdinand backs Rooney to shine |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand is tipping Wayne Rooney to end his scoring drought against Liverpool on Sunday. | Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand is tipping Wayne Rooney to end his scoring drought against Liverpool on Sunday. |
| "If I was a betting man I would have a couple of quid on him," United defender Ferdinand told BBC Five Live Sport. | "If I was a betting man I would have a couple of quid on him," United defender Ferdinand told BBC Five Live Sport. |
| "But I don't care who scores. It's not about personal benefits in this game. It's just a game you want to win." | "But I don't care who scores. It's not about personal benefits in this game. It's just a game you want to win." |
| Rooney, who is 21 on Tuesday, has not scored since the Premiership opener in August and will make his 100th United appearance against Liverpool. | Rooney, who is 21 on Tuesday, has not scored since the Premiership opener in August and will make his 100th United appearance against Liverpool. |
| Interview: Man Utd's Rio Ferdinand | |
| United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I hope Wayne goes on to play 1,000 games for us. | United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I hope Wayne goes on to play 1,000 games for us. |
| "He is the kind of player this club wants and he enjoys it here. He is at the right club, there is no doubt about that. | "He is the kind of player this club wants and he enjoys it here. He is at the right club, there is no doubt about that. |
| We are not thinking of losing, only that we have confidence that we can win Rafael Benitez | We are not thinking of losing, only that we have confidence that we can win Rafael Benitez |
| "Other than get him a birthday cake, I don't know what we will do for him on Tuesday. What I do know is that Wayne is an exceptional footballer - the best 21-year-old I have ever had." | "Other than get him a birthday cake, I don't know what we will do for him on Tuesday. What I do know is that Wayne is an exceptional footballer - the best 21-year-old I have ever had." |
| A win for Ferguson's side would put them back on top of the Premiership, at the expense of Chelsea. | A win for Ferguson's side would put them back on top of the Premiership, at the expense of Chelsea. |
| It would also leave Liverpool 11 points adrift of United, a gap Reds keeper Jose Reina fears could be "too much". | It would also leave Liverpool 11 points adrift of United, a gap Reds keeper Jose Reina fears could be "too much". |
| But manager Rafael Benitez is maintaining a positive outlook. | But manager Rafael Benitez is maintaining a positive outlook. |
| "Everything is not perfect but we are improving and it is important that we continue in that way against United," he said. | "Everything is not perfect but we are improving and it is important that we continue in that way against United," he said. |
| "I do not like to think in terms of 'if we lose we can't win the title'. I prefer to think of what will happen if we do win, if we can win there we can change the way we think about the future. | "I do not like to think in terms of 'if we lose we can't win the title'. I prefer to think of what will happen if we do win, if we can win there we can change the way we think about the future. |
| "We are not thinking of losing, only that we have confidence that we can win." | "We are not thinking of losing, only that we have confidence that we can win." |
| Benitez also believes the title race will be much closer than last season, when Chelsea dominated throughout. | Benitez also believes the title race will be much closer than last season, when Chelsea dominated throughout. |
| "I believe at the end of the season we will see maybe three or four clubs closer together than last season," he stated. | "I believe at the end of the season we will see maybe three or four clubs closer together than last season," he stated. |
| "I do not believe it will be like that again, with one club so far ahead." | "I do not believe it will be like that again, with one club so far ahead." |