Eleventh in the standings, eight points beind league-leader Manchester United, Liverpool faces the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manager Rafa Benitez hopes Liverpool's 1-0 win at Bordeaux in the Champions League on Wednesday will spark a better run of domestic form. Liverpool drew 1-1 with Blackburn and lost 2-0 at Bolton in its last two league matches.

``We needed a win like this to improve our confidence for what is coming ahead of us,'' Benitez said.

Peter Crouch scored against Bordeaux. He also had the only goal the last time Liverpool and Manchester United played, in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February. Before that, Rio Ferdinand scored a last-minute winner in a 1-0 United win in the league at Old Trafford in January. The league match at Anfield in September last year ended 0-0.

Benitez was impressed by Crouch's goal at Bordeaux, particularly as the lanky England striker had missed several chances before his 58th-minute header.

``For a striker, the key is to keep going,'' Benitez said. ``You must have that mentality if you want to win anything and that is what Peter did.''

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been doing extra training to counter Crouch.

``Crouch is always a handful and is particularly dangerous in the air,'' van der Sar said. ``So wherever possible I'll be trying to help my defence.''

Liverpool hasn't won an away game this season, but Van der Sar is wary.

``Liverpool are a quality side but it's not going for them at the moment and hopefully we can take advantage of that,'' Van der Sar said.

United cruised to a 3-0 win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday to maintain a perfect record after three games in the Champions League and top Group F.

Wayne Rooney captained the club for the first time and, while his goalless streak has extended to nine matches in all competitions, he's almost back to his best form.

The Red Devils will also be boosted by the return of four key players. Defenders Ferdinand (neck), Gary Neville (calf) and Gabriel Heinze (hamstring) and winger Ryan Giggs (illness) are all in contention for Sunday.

In Saturday's other matches, it's Wigan versus Manchester City (Rogers Sportsnet, 7:30 a.m. ET), Charlton versus Watford; Chelsea versus Portsmouth, Everton versus Sheffield United (Rogers Sportsnet, 10 a.m. ET), and Aston Villa versus Fulham (Rogers Sportsnet, 12:30 p.m. ET on tape delay).

On Sunday, it's Blackburn versus Bolton, Middlesbrough versus Newcastle, Reading versus Arsenal (Fox Sports World Canada, 11 a.m. ET), and Tottenham vs. West Ham (Fox Sports World Canada, 1 p.m. ET on tape delay).

United leads the table with 19 points, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference. Bolton is third with 17 points, followed by Portsmouth with 16 points and Arsenal with 14.

Chelsea should have second-choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini back for the Portsmouth match after he recovered from a concussion sustained in the 1-0 win at Reading on Sunday. First-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech is recovering from surgery after suffering a skull fracture in the same game.

Third-choice 'keeper Hilario was given his Chelsea debut in the 1-0 win against FC Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. Didier Drogba scored his ninth goal this season.

Manager Jose Mourinho dismissed speculation that former France and Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez would join the club.

``I prefer to think that now we have Hilario and Carlo, they are first options and we need somebody to give us security and replace Petr Cech in the group of keepers,'' Mourinho said. ``That is the profile of the goalkeeper we are looking for.''

Mourinho also wasn't worried about the form of striker Andriy Shevchenko, who hasn't scored for Chelsea since Aug. 23, when he connected in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough _ the Blues' only loss this season.

``I will keep picking Sheva until he scores,'' Mourinho said. ``I will pick him unless he has a problem or unless I decide to give him some rest.''

In the Football League Championship, Cardiff can extend its lead with a win at Norwich on Saturday, while second-place Preston hosts Hull. West Bromwich Albion seeks its fourth straight win and first under new manager Tony Mowbray when it hosts Wolves on Sunday.

Cardiff has 29 points, followed by Preston on 23, and West Brom and Wolves on 22.