• Premier League

Ferdinand out for Reds clash as Brown deputises

ESPN staff
March 2, 2011
Rio Ferdinand will not return to action against Liverpool this weekend © PA Photos
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will join Nemanja Vidic on the sidelines for the Premier League visit to Liverpool.

Vidic is suspended for the Anfield clash on Sunday after being sent off towards the end of Tuesday night's defeat to Chelsea. While there was some hope that Ferdinand might return from a calf injury in time for the lunchtime kick-off, Ferguson has confirmed he "won't be fit" to play - opening the door for Wes Brown to deputise alongside Chris Smalling.

"Wes will take over," Ferguson told MUTV. "He has great experience."

Despite the setback, and the manner of United's defeat to Chelsea, the manager is confident the squad will bounce back against Kenny Dalglish's side.

"At this club, you have to recover," he said. "That result's put us back but we have to recover for Sunday's game against Liverpool.

"We didn't deserve to lose [at Chelsea]. We played some fantastic stuff at times. It's hard to take."

Brown and Smalling could be confronted by Andy Carroll, who is being lined up to make his debut for the Merseyside club.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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