PRE-MATCH QUOTES

Last updated : 22 October 2006 By Ed

Ferguson:

'Do I have any special plans for Wayne other than a birthday cake? Well he has his hundredth game on Sunday and that's a landmark for any boy at 21.

'He is just an exceptional footballer and I don't know about Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville or Paul Scholes at 21, but they wouldn't have played that many games by then. I would have to check that, but I don't think any had reached 100 and I would have to say that Rooney is the best 21-year-old I've ever seen.

'I hope he plays 1,000 games here because Wayne Rooney is the type of player this club wants. He enjoys it here, he is at the right club, there's no doubt about that. I gave him the captaincy against Copenhagen in midweek and I think he was a bit nervous. I didn't talk to him about it, I just told Albert [Morgan, the kit man] to give him the armband. But he was all right.'

He ejects the possibility of Liverpool's title challenge being over with a United win today:

'But I don't agree that they will be out of it if we win. It's so early, just October, how can anyone say that? They have ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea still to play at home so they can turn it around. It's a competitive league, but we are where we want to be.

'And I'm not even interested in what Rafa's team might be because there could be 3,000 combinations and you could still get it wrong.'

Alan Smith:

"There is a different mood now.

''We've got players who are a year older with a year's more experience and they've grown together. They've had to deal with criticism and praise, but this year you've seen different people come out of their shell more. Darren Fletcher is having a great season in central midfield, which is his natural position, and there are various other people doing well. They're only young lads but they're under enormous pressure."

Carrick:

"Steven Gerrard is a great player.

"Without doubt, he's one of the best in the world.

"He is Liverpool's leader and their main man. When he plays well, Liverpool play well and tend to win their games.

"If I get the chance to play against him on Sunday, I know it will be a big test - but it's one I will relish.

"There is more at stake in this game than just three points, I am fully aware of that.

"Even before I signed for United, I knew this was a special game and how much it meant to the people involved - so I hope we can get the job done."

Benitez:

'If we continue winning I will be happy. I'm not under pressure. I don't know how many times I have changed the side, but for me this is not a problem. If you want to play every game, go to a small club. If you play one game a week you will always be starting. A small club would play maybe 42 games a season and that's not a problem. But if you want to play 65, you can't.

'The teams that progress in the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and Champions League play something like 65 games a season. At this level you cannot play in every game because you are playing good sides all the time.

'The first thing is to be consistent,' he says. 'And if you can beat the small clubs the next step is to beat the top sides. This year we need to improve. I'm not stupid. I knew the other day we didn't play particularly well, but we won and it was the Champions League. We have enough quality in the squad.

'But maybe the Premiership is the hardest because Chelsea have a lot of money and United and Arsenal also needed to spend more money. Five years ago it was Manchester United or Arsenal. Now it's Manchester, Arsenal and Chelsea. A lot of clubs like Newcastle and Tottenham have spent a lot of money trying to be near the top of the table. It's more difficult now.'