Red View: United v Liverpool previews, Bebe's first match + more

BOSS: BERBA WILL PLAY IN THE BIG ONE Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t in the habit of giving away too many secrets, but the United boss has confirmed Dimitar Berbatov will face Liverpool. The Bulgarian has been in fine form this season, netting four goals in five games to silence members of the media who had challenged whether he was cut out to play for the Reds. His boss has always backed the striker and will put his faith in Dimitar again on Sunday at Old Trafford. “Not everyone’s questioned him,” Sir Alex reminded the press on Friday morning. “He has a lot of admirers, particularly within this club. He's had some marvellous games for us. I’ve told him he has to dismiss the press. I think he worried about [the headlines sometimes]. But he’s expressed himself this season very well, he’s enjoying his football and he’ll play on Sunday.” The boss also reiterated his belief that United-Liverpool games are still the biggest drawcard on the English football calendar. “I may sound like a parrot because I say this time and time again - this is the fixture. The form fluctuates quite a bit - there was a period for about five years when we hardly lost and then recently they won a few in a row. We won the last game so hopefully that swings it back in our favour again.” More: Better news for Valencia | Gimme 5: Classic goals vs Liverpool POOL ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS MUTV's David Stowell blogs on Sunday's opponents... In Rafa we trusted. We knew what to expect from Liverpool under Benitez - not a lot. The "Miracle in Istanbul" aside, he promised much and delivered very little. Hence Liverpool have had to go back to the drawing board under new manager Roy Hodgson, resulting in a tepid start to the domestic campaign. The former Fulham boss has already admitted there are plenty of issues to be resolved with "a cloud hanging over Anfield." Steven Gerrard smiles in England white while frowning in Merseyside red at the moment. Fernando Torres seems to have lost all his belief and a lot of his ability with one hair-cut and Javier Mascherano's petulance broke new limits in the summer as the Argentinian effectively went on strike. His summer departure did disappoint me purely because of the hilarity he provides in matches with his post-tackle tantrums and the inevitable red/yellow cards that he invites. Replacing the belligerent Mascherano with the exciting Raul Meireles for a tidy profit is one of a few shrewd moves by Hodgson in the transfer market; another was effectively swopping Yossi Benayoun for Joe Cole and gaining five million pounds in the process. He also stopped the Spanish Armada - Torres and Pepe Reina - from abandoning what looked like a sinking ship. So, after treading water for a while under Benitez, there's now a splinter of optimism at Anfield. A new, unpredictable future is slowly unfolding. Podcast: Hear more opinions in this week's edition of Red Voices BEBE'S FIRST OUTING Bebe's first appearance at United, for the Reserves, ended in a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa but the Portuguese winger still caught the eye. The 20-year-old operated primarily as a right-sided forward in a three-man attack for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, and his pace and trickery were a source of discomfort for the visiting defenders at Moss Lane, Altrincham. Bebe also slung several impressive crosses into the Villa box, sadly none of which met the finish they deserved, and he briefly swapped flanks with left-winger Gabriel Obertan during the first half. Although his outing ultimately ended in defeat, Bebe can reflect positively on his first taste of English football. The youngster also completed the entire match - a timely boost both for his fitness and his manager, following the loss of Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia for much of the season. Solskjaer told MUTV after the game: "I thought Bebe was very good. He's raw - he's not had the same football education that the rest of our lads have had, so he's got things to learn in this game. I'm sure he will learn. But he's got some exceptional qualities - he's got a great right foot, great left foot and a great shot in him, and his crosses were excellent tonight. He made a good impression." Video: Watch Bebe clips on ManUtd.com This email has been sent to you by ManUtd.com, Manchester United, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0RA, England. 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