The contrasting priorities this season of Manchester United and Liverpool could be put in sharp focus today when they clash at Anfield in a match brought forward to a morning start (11.30) for security reasons.

For last season's Treble winners the match is a useful warm-up for next Tuesday's opening game of the European Champions' League against Croatia Zagreb at Old Trafford.

With five successive league wins - and a three-point advantage over second-placed Aston Villa - United manager Alex Ferguson would probably settle for a point from one of the traditional grudge matches of the English season.

Many of the players who will be on show have played two international games in the space of five days this week and with no sign of a let-up in the hectic schedule Ferguson may rotate his squad.

United will certainly be without captain Roy Keane (groin) and defender Denis Irwin (ankle), who were both injured playing for Mick McCarthy's team. Right-back Gary Neville is also out after picking up a groin injury in England's goalless draw in Poland on Wednesday.

"We've got a massive amount of injuries at the moment," admitted Ferguson. "Sometimes it happens and there's not a lot you can do about it. They were important international games."

Ferguson will also be monitoring the fitness of England midfielder David Beckham, who played in Poland despite suffering a slight hamstring tweak against Luxembourg last Saturday.

Strikers Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, already with eight goals between them this season, were spared international exertions and should start.

New Italian signing Massimo Taibi will make his debut in goal amid rumours about the Old Trafford future of close-season capture Mark Bosnich, who has still not recovered from a hamstring injury and was this week linked with a move to Spanish side Espanyol.

Mickael Silvestre is set to make his Manchester United debut to ease Alex Ferguson's defensive headache. United have rushed through Silvestre's transfer from Inter Milan to have him available.

The deal, which is worth a reported £4 million, was completed yesterday after he received international clearance from the Italian FA.

The French under-21 defender may slot in at left-back, having trained in that position yesterday.

Ironically Silvestre would have been lining up in the same position for Liverpool had manager Gerard Houllier had his way, but instead the 22-year-old opted for a move to Old Trafford.

Ferguson believes his vast squad can cope with the loss of so many players. "We have three centre-backs injured and I'm looking at how I can rejig my team to get a result," he said.

Liverpool, already seven points adrift of United on nine points, are nonetheless bubbling after successive wins over Leeds and Arsenal.

Houllier has no European distractions this season and can afford to concentrate on domestic honours, though he, too, will need to assess the fitness of his internationals before selecting his team.

England pair Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, who played the last 25 minutes in Poland, may start in attack, though Guinean striker Titi Camara has made a big impact in his short Anfield career to date.

In a game of double bluff, Houllier refuses to believe that United skipper Roy Keane will be missing at Anfield until Ferguson produces a team sheet.

Houllier said: "I'll see whether Roy Keane is out when I have the team sheet in my hand, and not before.

"But Keane didn't play in the European Cup Final and United still won. Their asset is that they have a squad of such high quality, that whoever plays the results still seem to be the same."

Houllier will make a late decision on Jamie Redknapp's fitness, after he returned early from England duty with a foot injury.

"He is captain of the side and of course he wants to play, and I think he will," he said.

Liverpool go into the match without a win against United in six league games and only six victories in their last 24 meetings.

But Houllier believes that his team can rise to the occasion. He said: "I have said that we will beat them one day, and hope this is it. I do not believe that we are good enough to win the championship.

"We can all dream, but I know the strength of the Premiership and we still have plenty of improvements in lots of areas to make.

Liverpool have doubts over Rigobert Song, who damaged a hamstring while away on international duty with Cameroon, but the versatile defender is expected to play.

If Redknapp doesn't make it, then Houllier will revamp the midfield, and shuffle his back line, introducing Veggard Heggem and playing Song as a central defender.