Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's Everton connections meant he was already in for a rough ride from Liverpool fans this weekend but last week's family problems and England sending-off should crank up the decibels of abuse at Anfield.
Liverpool host Rooney's table-topping United in one of the glamour fixtures of the Premier League in the early kick-off on Saturday and the usual fierce rivalry between the north-west neighbours will now have extra spice.
Rooney will miss the start of Euro 2012 after being dismissed for a wild kick in England's 2-2 draw in Montenegro on Friday, just after his father and uncle had been arrested and bailed over an alleged betting scam which they deny.
The Liverpool-born former Everton striker will run the gauntlet at a noisy Anfield but has proved time and again he can overcome adversity. A 2006 World Cup red card failed to knock his blistering career off course and he has recovered from last season's dip in form and contract wrangle to rediscover his mojo with nine league goals from seven matches this term.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps pleased that England coach Fabio Capello has said Rooney will not start any friendlies in the build-up to Euro 2012, was not overly worried by his main forward's lack of self-control.
"He has been tackled and he has reacted," Ferguson said. "He has this fiery temper which, to my mind, is not the worst thing in the world. He has shown tremendous improvement in his temperament and his reactions to tackles and things over the past few years. He is improving all the time."
Two players who were not away with England because of a lack of fitness, United centre back Rio Ferdinand and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, will be desperate to return to the starting line-up in a game Liverpool won 3-1 last term.
Ferguson has not decided whether to play captain Nemanja Vidic. The Serbian centre-back has been out with a calf injury since August although he played for his country this week in Euro 2012 qualifying.
"He came in yesterday and felt okay," Ferguson said. "But the Liverpool game is such an intense, stamina-draining game that you want everyone to be 100 per cent so it might be more down to how he feels himself."
Liverpool have no injury worries ahead of Saturday's clash, a surprised manager Kenny Dalglish said on Friday.
"I don't think it's happened too many times in the past but there isn't anyone on the treatment table."
Manchester City will not risk striker Sergio Aguero for Saturday's match at home to Aston Villa, manager Roberto Mancini said.
The Argentina forward is close to fitness after a groin injury and is likely to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League game at home to Villarreal.
"We don't want to take any risk for tomorrow," Mancini told a news conference on Friday.
Fellow forward Mario Balotelli is poised to feature on Saturday after recovering from a back injury.
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will miss Saturday's home match against Everton to serve the final match of his three-game suspension he picked up in September.
Everton could be without Australian Tim Cahill (ankle), who was forced out of international action last week due to the injury.
Tottenham Hotspur are waiting on the fitness of striker Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Sandro (calf) and Aaron Lennon (groin) ahead of the match at fourth-placed Newcastle United on Sunday.
Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar picked up injuries in Croatia's win against Latvia on Tuesday and will miss the match.
The Liverpool-United clash is not the only north-west derby on Saturday as struggling Wigan Athletic welcome neighbours Bolton Wanderers who need a run-of-the-mill game to climb off the bottom after playing all the top teams.
West Bromwich Albion, just above Wigan and Bolton, also entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday in the Black Country derby.
Reuters
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