Rio Ferdinand is at a loss to explain Manchester United's performance at Liverpool on Saturday but has vowed to put things right next week at Chelsea.

United started brightly at Anfield as Carlos Tevez gave them the lead but thereafter and Liverpool dominated and deservedly took a three-point haul courtesy of Wes Brown's own goal and substitute Ryan Babel's winner.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez had never previously tasted a league win in what remains the league's biggest fixture, as Babel's goal ended a run of five successive United victories in the fixture.

Ferdinand rued the two defensive lapses that led to Liverpool's goals but accepts his side were second best over the 90 minutes.

"We never really got started," Ferdinand told MUTV. "For the first ten minutes, before and after we scored, we looked decent and passed the ball well.

"But after that we didn't get close to them and they managed to get their two goals. They were fortunate on both occasions but I'm sure they'll be happy enough with that.

"All over the park they were first to the ball and you don't deserve to win if teams are doing that to you."

Following defeat on Merseyside, United could have hoped for an easier game than Chelsea away but Ferdinand is confident the capital clash could provide just the fillip for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

"It's always nice to play in big games after disappointments - you find out about your team when you've lost a game.

"We want to go to Chelsea and give a good account of ourselves, try to take the three points and ruin their unbeaten home record over the past two or three seasons.

"There couldn't be a better game for us than the one coming up."

On Sunday, Ferdinand will be without defensive partner Nemanja Vidic after the Serbian was shown two yellow cards against Liverpool, while midfielder Michael Carrick is also likely to miss out after picking up a foot injury.

Vidic will be available for the visit of Villareal in the opening fixture of the Champions League on Wednesday.