LONDON -- Liverpool will attempt to enhance their Champions League prospects and deliver a potentially fatal blow to Manchester United's championship hopes at Old Trafford today.

Alex Ferguson's team, though, have other ideas. The game against their fierce rivals marks the start of a run of heavyweight matches that will determine United's fortunes this season.

After facing Liverpool they travel to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before visiting their chief Premier League title rivals Newcastle United and Arsenal in quick succession.

Two points behind Arsenal, a defeat against in-form Liverpool, who beat them 2-0 in the League Cup final last month, is unthinkable, Reuters reported.

Captain Roy Keane, after resting a hamstring for the best part of a month, should return to add some fire to United's belly. Strikers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy warmed up with goals for their countries, Norway and the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

Liverpool's mid-season slump appears over after their League Cup triumph and three straight league wins and their run for fourth spot and the Champions League place it offers is gathering pace.