Ryan Giggs has admitted Manchester United are determined to make amends for their home humbling at the hands of Liverpool last season.

The Reds romped to a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford just over 12 months ago on a bleak afternoon for Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils faithful.

Despite that setback, United went on to retain their Premier League crown with their bitter North West rivals having to settle for second place.

This season, Rafa Benitez's troops are well off the title pace and are battling simply to ensure they finish fourth to secure another season of UEFA Champions League football.

And veteran midfielder Giggs, who could make his comeback from a broken arm wearing a lightweight cast, knows just what is at stake for both teams.

Massive game

The Welshman told Sky Sports News: "We didn't play well here last year against Liverpool and they deserved the victory. Hopefully that won't be the same this week.

"It's a massive game, purely because it is Liverpool. It is towards the end of the season so there is so much riding on it.

"No matter how the teams are doing, it is just a massive rivalry because of the history between the two teams, they are two successful teams.

"There is lots of quality on the pitch so you know need to perform whether you are at Anfield or Old Trafford.

"We let ourselves down last year. Hopefully that won't be the case. We are in good form and scoring goals."

History

Giggs has played an integral role in helping United move level with Liverpool on a record 18 domestic league titles, with 11 crowns of his own.

And the experienced campaigner claims that finally moving ahead of their neighbours in the record books would be a sweet moment, although it is not his only motivation.

He added: "As a United fan, for me it comes into it, growing up seeing Liverpool win everything.

"We are trying to win the league this year and whatever records you break or whatever things you do in history comes after.

"At the moment you want to win the game to try and help you win the league."

Stuart Mathieson

March 18, 2010

Owen Hargreaves is set to finally face his personal D-day tonight when he plays his first competitive match for 18 months.

The United midfielder is expected to be in the Reds' reserve XI to face Burnley at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.

The 29-year-old has been on a seven-month rehab programme at United's Carrington training HQ since returning to England last September from America. He has had two knee operations to cure his chronic tendonitis problem in Colorado and stayed on at Dr Richard Steadman's famous clinic in Vail as part of his recovery plan.

But it has been a tortuous road back since joining up with United again in the autumn.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped to include the England player in the latter part of his Champions League group plans last year but Hargreaves failed to make it.

In January, Fergie omitted him from his Euro squad for the second half of the campaign as his recovery schedule meant he was unlikely to be fit to take part in the early knockout ties.

Last Thursday, Hargreaves was pencilled in for a reserve outing but he was forced to postpone his appearance because he went to visit a specialist for a medical update.

Fergie reported then: "There is nothing wrong and the idea is for him to play in the next game. He has to play in the next game because he is ready to play."

Now the day has finally arrived and it's make-or-break for the £18m buy.

Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck has had to end his loan spell at Preston and return to Manchester for a knee operation.

The striker is now set to miss the rest of the season.

Stuart Mathieson

March 18, 2010

Patrice Evra is United's defensive Mr Durable this term.

And ex-Reds left-back Denis Irwin believes the French number three would be Old Trafford's Player of the Year but for Wayne Rooney.

Evra has managed to avoid the injury curse that has eaten away at United's defensive line-up.

He has made 40 appearances for the Reds this term and has only had a breather in the early rounds of the Carling Cup and selected Champions League group matches.

His only brief rest since the beginning of December came when he was allowed a break for the FA Cup third-round defeat by Leeds United in January.

Nobody, even hotshot Rooney, has started more games than the 29-year-old defender this term.

Irwin was Sir Alex Ferguson's Mr Dependable of the 90s and he recognises the full-back's contribution.

"For me Patrice Evra has been United's player of the season - along with Wayne Rooney of course," Irwin told M.E.N. Sport.

"Unfortunately for full-backs, the centre forwards get all the glory and headlines because they score the goals. Wayne has been tremendous, particularly in the last three months, but for me Evra has been every bit as good.

"He has been very consistent and I mean very, very good consistency. The defence has suffered all sorts of injury problems and that has been a problem, though the stats are still good.

"But Patrice has been a mainstay and that bit of stability and form has been vital. You need someone in there to keep experience and some familiarity when others are falling by the wayside.

"I do think he is the best in the world now. Ashley Cole at Chelsea has improved a lot. But Patrice has come on too and this season has been his best for United. Ashley is probably his main challenger, but Pat would be number one for me."

Old Trafford start

Evra's Old Trafford career didn't get off to the best of starts when he moved from Monaco in January 2005.

Once he found his feet he was admired for his adventurous attacking qualities, but defensively he wasn't amongst the elite.

"He has come on in leaps and bounds. When he arrived I saw a very attacking player. That was impressive," added Irwin.

"When you play for United for the vast majority of games you are going to be on the front foot. But you also have to defend. That is your job first and foremost as a full-back and he has improved enormously in that department.

"That improvement has seen him become the number one in my eyes."

Irwin's Treble-winning colleague Andrew Cole, however, backs Rooney for the individual honours.

"The boy can do it all," said Cole.

"Wayne has been on fire. He always looks like he is going to score. I enjoy watching him play so much now. He is getting the eight or six-yard tap-in goals now. That's where the improvement has come.

"You can get yourself ten goals a season being in that area and being clinical and alive. We all know he can get the wonder goals, but those close in ones are the bread and butter ones.

"The two he got against Fulham last Saturday were those kinds of goals.

"He is looking the complete package now. He has pace and power. Can head a goal now can hit them with his right or left - what more do you want?

"He's the top man."