GEORDIES TO THE RESCUE
Bobby Robson:
"Is it the end of a dynasty at Manchester United? Quite frankly I think that is ridiculous.
"How can there be a crisis at Manchester United? They have the best manager in the country, some of the best players in the country, the biggest support and biggest stadium in the country, more money in the bank than other clubs, all the infrastructure is as good as anything.
"How can you call that club in crisis?
"They have a lot of injuries and when some of your best players don't play you're not at your best.
"I know nothing about so-called problems at Manchester United. I'll always believe Sir Alex is a great manager.
"Sir Alex and those inside Manchester have always known how important Roy Keane is to the whole club. Now it is being realised outside Manchester too.
"He psyches up the team, drives them on, never loses his combativeness for a minute and never stops running from the first second to the last.
"I think we have caught up with them to a certain degree. This match will give us an indication of where the difference is. You have to admit Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal just have that bit extra. We want to combat that.
"It's still an intimidating place to go, a hostile environment. We are jumping with joy that David Beckham and others won't be playing. It gives us that little extra chance.
"Certain places you go and get nowt unless you equal them in every department, or they have too much for you. If you're going to win the championship those teams have a large pick up of points away from home and are hardly beatable at home. That is why Arsenal and Manchester United are always there. You go there and hardly ever get anything."
Former England striker Malcolm Macdonald in the MEN:
"United have made the Premiership what it is and what it stands for - they've set tremendously high standards and forced others to act.
"Anyone working in the Premiership who has earned a lucrative contract can thank United for it.
"What United have achieved and how they've played has made the boardrooms of rival clubs see at first hand how things need to be done.
"Arsenal have become a fluent ball-playing side simply because they realised they had to challenge United's domination.
"Don't forget they used to be dubbed boring Arsenal yet United have paved the way for the Premiership's excitement and stature.
"Manchester United always give their opponents a chance to play. Entertainment comes first and it's a case of go and prove who is the better side.
"I recently watched Liverpool at Middlesbrough and could not believe their negative attitude in having 10 men behind the ball.
"You sense a bit of fear in such tactics and it's something you would never see from Manchester United and my old clubs Arsenal and Newcastle.
"You simply cannot write Manchester United off and it's never a good time to play such a quality team.
"I admit they are not as powerful as they were and they no longer have the ability to obliterate opponents.
"This is possibly a little frustrating for the fans and if we are talking of United being on the wane then it's a case of going from unbelievable heights to now being at sensational heights."