Injury worries for Ferdinand as well as a lack of current form

They look set to join Darren Fletcher, Gary Neville, Park Ji-sung and Danny Welbeck on the sidelines.

United's hopes of reclaiming the top spot from Chelsea in the English Premier League look slim due to a spate of injuries and the current good form of the Blues.

With Chelsea going into their game at Bolton on a streak of 13 goals in three matches following last weekend's 5-0 win over Blackburn, even victory for United is unlikely to be enough to regain the top spot.

Long season

European finalists United fell to second place with a surprise 2-0 loss at Liverpool last weekend that seriously dented their aspirations for a record fourth straight title.

"We went to Anfield last season and lost, yet went on to win the league,'' United defender Jonny Evans said.

"While Liverpool deserved to win at the weekend, we all know it is a long season.

"It is going to be a good game on Saturday, and a chance for us to get back on track in the league.''

United did beat Barnsley in the League Cup on Wednesday but conceded plenty of chances to the League Championship side.

Welbeck scored the second goal but is ruled out because of a knee injury, while Neville is suspended following his red card in the match.

Darren Fletcher is out for a fifth match because of a groin injury, Park has not played for more than a month and Ryan Giggs could also miss out injured.

"We face an uphill fight to get players fit for tomorrow,'' Ferguson said.

Confident Chelsea

"They know whatever went wrong cannot be repeated or they will lose 4-0 again, and can have a different approach to the game,'' Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said.

"Psychologically they know it can't really get worse.''

Midfielder Joe Cole is back from 10 months out and set up two goals in Wednesday's game, Salomon Kalou has scored three goals in his last two games and the team has not conceded for three matches.

Chelsea can also recall John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ricardo Carvalho and Nicolas Anelka after resting them on Wednesday, and Ashley Cole may return from an ankle problem.

Liverpool ended a four-match winless streak by beating United and, although a second-string side lost at Arsenal 2-1 in the League Cup, they get the first real test of their revival at Fulham on Saturday.

"We knew how important the game against United was and how much the fans enjoy it if we beat them,'' Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano said.

"But it was just three points and we have to keep going.

"We can't afford to be thinking about beating United and then, in this instance, go to Fulham and not play at the same level.''

Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres and Jose Reina are all set to return to the side to face a Fulham team unbeaten in five games after a slow start to the season. But captain Steven Gerrard and defender Glen Johnson have been ruled out.

Hull are at Burnley for what several British newspapers suggest could be Phil Brown's last game as Tigers manager.

Brown has survived despite only narrowly avoiding relegation last season and a run of just three wins in 32 matches, but Hull are again languishing in the relegation zone and have the worst goal difference in the division.

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