Preview: Liverpool vs. Manchester United

Wayne Rooney looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on August 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Getty Images)

In addition to Sunday’s fixture, Moyes and United’s executive team will attempt to land up to three midfielders before the transfer window closes on Monday evening, with all the inherent media attention that brings.

First though there are three points at stake, with the Premier League’s big guns already gathering at the head of the table.

“What I’ve realised since I came to Man United is that almost every game we play is a big occasion,” said Moyes.

“We’ve just had a big game against Chelsea. Now it’s Liverpool away. Then in a couple of weeks we have Manchester City. It feels like I’ve had a lot of big games and big occasions in a short space of time, a lot of big events happening very quickly.”

Although the intensity of competition on the pitch has lessened over the years, Liverpool remains the biggest fixture on the calendar for many supporters. The Anfield club’s failure to the land an English league title in more than 20 years is unlikely to be broken soon, but there are few teams that United supporters would rather put to the sword.

“I always enjoy playing at Anfield. It’s a ground I have done well at. It’s a stadium where the fans are very close to you and that inspires you and gives you lots of energy. It’s a great atmosphere to be involved in,” said United midfielder Anderson, who is set to stay at the club despite Moyes chasing a cluster of new players.

“I know people talk about the big games, but honestly every single game at Manchester United is a big one. You have to work so hard because everyone wants to win against you. Of course though, Liverpool is always an important match. There is a lot of history between both clubs.”

Meanwhile, the home side is likely to be without Kolo Toure, Joe Allen and Aly Cissokho after the trio suffered injuries during Tuesday’s Capital One Cup win over Notts County. However, defender Martin Skrtel will return for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Defenders Tiago Ilori of Sporting Lisbon and Paris St-Germain’s Mamadou Sakho will not join the match-day party, although Liverpool has agreed fees totalling £25 million for the pair.

And the Liverpool manager turned up the pressure on Moyes’s ahead of Sunday’s fixture, blaming the Scot for the drab end to United’s clash against Chelsea. While Moyes was often accused of being a conservative coach while in charge of Everton, it is a quality, if replicated at Old Trafford, that will attract criticism from the terraces.

“A manager can affect the attitude of his players. Look at the Chelsea game the other night. It was drifting towards a 0-0 and there wasn’t really a murmur at Old Trafford,” said Rodgers, whose Liverpool side finished seventh last season.

“You know at the time Fergie was there he was probably going for the win so the crowd were near enough expecting a goal at the end. Fergie was renowned for always asking about the time in games and using that influence.”

Still, Moyes has plenty of time on his side and the security of a six-year contract. Should Rodgers once again fail to bring European football to Anfield come May next year it is the Northern Irishman that is likely to be feeling the pressure.

In the meantime Sunday’s match will not define the narrative for a season, but could proffer a significant morale boost to the victors ahead of a two-week international break. Not least Moyes who has never led a victorious Everton team at Anfield.

TeamsLiverpool (4-3-2-1): Mignolet; Johson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard; Aspas, Coutinho; Sturridge. Subs from: Jones, Cissokho, Wisdom, Alberto, Sterling, Borini, Ibe

United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young; Welbeck; van Persie. Subs from: Lindegaard, Buttner, F da Silva, Smalling, Giggs, Anderson, Zaha, Kagawa, Hernández

Head-to-HeadLiverpool 62 – Draw 51 – United 74

OfficialsReferee: Andre MarrinerAssistants: S Ledger, M McDonoughFourth Official: P Dowd

Prediction1-2