Man United get chance for payback for FA Cup exit

Two weeks after Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool, the defending Premier League champions get the chance for some payback when they host their traditional rivals in the English championship on Saturday.

With league leaders Manchester City at Aston Villa on Sunday, second-place United are likely to need victory at Old Trafford to stay in touch with their neighbours at the top of the standings.

United showed their fighting spirit by recovering a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 at Chelsea last weekend and are in the mood to face the team they overhauled as English football's most successful last season.

United midfielder Ryan Giggs says "it's the club we tried to catch for so long and now we've caught them the challenge is to stay ahead."

Liverpool are out of contention for the title they last won in 1990 but still have the cup competitions to aim for - and can also spoil United's season.

Out of the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, United only have the Premier League and the minor attraction of the Europa League left to aim for. A loss at Old Trafford on Saturday could be a heavy blow to United's title hopes.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is trying to keep his players focussed on the match rather than the hype surrounding it.

The FA Cup game was overshadowed by the continued fallout of the row between the clubs that erupted this season when Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra.

Suarez is available again after missing the previous game because of suspension.

"Both teams have a responsibility to ensure this weekend is remembered as a cracking game of football between two very good sides, rather than for anything else," Dalglish said. "I'm sure people will want to talk about Luis Suarez, but he accepted his ban, served his suspension and returned against Spurs on Monday. It's time for all of us to draw a line under what happened and move forward."

"From Luis' point of view we have spoken to him and I know he will shake the hand of Patrice Evra and the other Manchester United players before the game."

Any slip-up by United could give third-place Tottenham the chance to close a five-point gap on the defending champions.

Tottenham host Newcastle in another of Saturday's eight games finally free of the court case that prevented manager Harry Redknapp from attending Monday's 0-0 draw at Liverpool.

Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges Wednesday and was almost immediately linked with the job of succeeding Fabio Capello as England coach. But Redknapp said he is thinking only about a Tottenham side that is hoping to have Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe back from injury.

"I've not even thought about it. I've got a job to do," Redknapp said. "I've got a big game on Saturday for Tottenham. Tottenham is my focus."

Also Saturday, it's: Blackburn vs. Queen Park Rangers; Bolton vs. Wigan; Everton vs. Chelsea; Fulham vs. Stoke; Sunderland vs. Arsenal; and Swansea vs. Norwich.

On Sunday, City will play Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers host West Bromwich Albion.

League Championship leaders West Ham aim to boost their campaign for promotion from the second tier at Peterborough on Saturday.