Premiership
Old Trafford
Sunday, 11 November; KO: 15:00 BST

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last visit to Old Trafford in the league saw United run out 4-1 winners,
but not before Matt Derbyshire put Rovers in front and Brad Friedel produced a string of fine saves.


Friedel
often plays out of his skin against the Reds and Blackburn manager Mark Hughes
will hope for another strong performance from the American stopper.


Form guide:

While all the attention has been on United and Arsenal

Blackburn
have crept quietly up the league table.
Currently in sixth position, Rovers have lost just once this season and come into this game after keeping Liverpool at bay.



meanwhile, will need to put the disappointment of dropping two points at the Emirates behind them and get back to winning ways in the league.


Ins and outs:



Gary Neville has suffered another calf injury just as it looked like he might return to first-team action,
but the Reds were boosted last weekend by the return of Owen Hargreaves, Louis Saha and Michael Carrick.


on the other hand, hope to welcome back Aaron Mokoena (calf/shin), while Steven Reid (knee, calf, hamstring)
and Jason Roberts (thigh) are both outside chances of making the squad.


Star men:




Blackburn striker and self-confessed United fan


Benni McCarthy
has found the net five times already this season


As for

summer signing


Anderson
has really been coming into his own in recent weeks and would love to cap his recent run of good form with a first United goal.


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(from):
Van der Sar, Kuszczak,
Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evans, Evra, Simpson,
Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Nani,
Saha, Tevez

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
will have his strongest squad of the season to choose from.

He has no injury concerns following the 4-0 win over Dynamo Kiev in midweek, although Gary Neville is unlikely to return against Blackburn.


(from):
Friedel, Brown,
Emerton, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Berner, Bentley,
Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Tugay, Mokoena,
Rigters, Khizanishvili, Treacy


Blackburn manager Mark Hughes
will not consider midfielder Steven Reid, who is not fully fit following 14 months of knee and back problems.

Hughes has no new injury worries and is set to choose from an unchanged squad.



BIG-MATCH FACTS



play the first Premier League match of Sir Alex Ferguson's 22nd year in charge.

United, buoyed by qualification to the knock-out stages of the Champions League,
are seeking a sixth successive Premier League home victory, which would take them three points clear of Arsenal at the top,
as the Gunners don't play away to Reading until Monday evening.



like United, have lost just one league match this season,
and are searching for a 50th victory in this league under Mark Hughes.

Hughes, scored 162 goals in 472 games for the Red Devils,
and won two league titles, three FA Cups, the Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup with them.

Blackburn were doubled by Manchester United last season.
The reverse was the case in the previous season, when Rovers picked up their only Premier League victory at Old Trafford to date;
prevailing 1-2 on 24 September 2005 with a double from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

CLUB FORM:

Club stats
fixtures

Club stats
fixtures

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

Cristiano RONALDO
is Manchester United's top scorer with eight goals.

RONALDO, Wayne ROONEY and Carlos TEVEZ are the clubs top Premier League marksmen, with four each.

Louis SAHA has scored four goals in his last four league and cup appearances against Blackburn.

Ryan GIGGS is one short of 100 career league goals.

Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have started all of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

Michael CARRICK will be making his 250th career league appearance
(West Ham, Swindon, Birmingham, Tottenham and Manchester United).





Benni McCARTHY is Blackburn's top scorer with eight goals, and the club's leading Premier League marksman with five.

Brad FRIEDEL has made 125 consecutive Premier League appearances for Blackburn,
in a sequence that started at the beginning of the 2004-05 season.

David DUNN needs a hat-trick to total 50 career club goals (Blackburn and Birmingham).

Only FRIEDEL and David BENTLEY have played every minute of every one of Blackburn's league and cup matches this season.

If selected:-

McCARTNEY will be playing on the eve of his 30th birthday.

If on the field from the outset:-

BENTLEY will be making his 100th start in Blackburn colours.

Brett EMERTON will be making his 150th start in a Blackburn shirt.

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

staged a thrilling fightback with four second-half goals to beat Blackburn
in this corresponding fixture last March and move a step closer to the completion of a ninth Premier League title.

The aggregate score for Manchester United's two victories over Blackburn last season was 5-1;
it was 6-4 in Rovers' favour from the two league clashes in 2005-06.




have won only once in 19 league and cup visits to the Theatre of Dreams since 1963.


Home and away

Manchester United 4-1 Blackburn Rovers
31 March 2007 - Ref: Chris Foy
Man United scorers: Scholes 61, Carrick 73, Park 83, Solskjaer 90
Blackburn scorer: Derbyshire 29