FA Cup - United: Evra will face Liverpool
Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan has confirmed Patrice Evra will not be spared the trial of playing at Anfield on Saturday.
United's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Liverpool will be the first time they have faced their old rivals since Evra levelled racism allegations at Luis Suarez that ended with the Uruguay forward landing an eight-match ban. Suarez will still be suspended this weekend, a fact that is only likely to heighten the normal antagonism for United from the Kop.
But, when asked by BBC Radio Manchester whether United had thought about leaving Evra out, Phelan said: "It wouldn't be a consideration. Patrice Evra is a football player who plays for Manchester United. If he is fit, he is considered to play like any other player."
He added: "What has happened has happened. What has been said has been said. You are talking about a football match now and I think it will be a very good FA Cup tie."
United will head to Liverpool fresh from wins at Manchester City and Arsenal in their last two away games, but beset by injury.
In addition to Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher and long-term absentees Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Michael Owen, Nani is likely to miss out with a foot problem, whilst Rio Ferdinand is not expected to recover from a back complaint.
Of Phil Jones there is better news, with the teenager making a rapid recovery from an ankle problem Ferguson said on Sunday would keep him out for a number of weeks.
It is not certain Jones will be fit for Saturday. However, it would be a major bonus for United given the form he has shown since a £17million summer arrival from Blackburn.
"We are quietly surprised with what Phil has contributed so far this season," said Phelan.
"What we intended to do was blood him in nicely and bring him through bit by bit. But he has hit the ground running."
Comment 22 - 41 of 41
Send Glen Johnson after Evra, he's good at getting away with dirty fouls, joking aside Liverpool wont be allowed to win this match, this is utd's only chance at silverware this season.
Nezir @33 the banned players you mention have something in common, they are both INNOCENT the FA is a farce.
If you were stood in the trenches, which you are in a very very small way when playing team sports like football.
Would you want Evra stood next to you ?
liverpoo shitees dkheads cant even understand them what language country is that they speak they speak like as if they got a veg*ina in thier gob get over you racist lot your a shame your clubs a shame admit it you support racism the only football hooligans around you ladies cant act like a man
Mike Phelan states that Evra will not be spared at Anfield , I think Liverpool will take the very same view......
Craig @35 "just set a bomb off in scouse maggot land" and what has NORWAY done to you?
just set a bomb off in scouse maggot land and hopfully it will wipe the lot of them out . making this country a better and safer place to live!!!!
What Evra will say again if they lose.... He said this to me or he did that to me ... Then he will cry like a baby !!
i think liverpool will be very motivated fa banrd suarez 8 games but balloteli 4 strange rules
The Man U players know what kind of person Evra he is.The Liverpool players know what kind of person Suareze is. Neither would qualify as an angel. Players in that match ,just like in the QPR Chelsea game know what went down but lack the guts to step up and say so publicly. That applies to both black and white....
I hope the LFC fans give Evra plenty of abuse, he deserves it for being such a sensitive little French tart!
LMFAO
Liverscum fans: its time to accept the ban and get over it. Suarez was found guilty of racial abuse byu and independent panel not by the FA. Evra had never reported anyone for racial abuse before so he must have tought it was bad and his team mates, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick gave written evidence. Given that your club stands accused of racism because of subsequent events you would think that you might shut up about an incident which did not show your club ina good light. Evra will Captain United in Vidic's abscence against Liverpool and that is all there is to it, Fergie would never give in to racists by leaving him out. If things kick off, so be it, if Stevie G and co can't hold heir tempers in check then they will get carded and probably sent off. You can bet that neither Patrice Evra nor any of his teamates will do anything to raise the temperature. They will simply get on with the job and so should Liverpool and their fans. If you are not all racists then prove it!
Johnny - ".hopefully some karma will come evra's way wonder what the odds will be to him being sent of?""
I'd much prefer 'carried off' to be honest bud!! Personally I hope he does play, for the simple reason that he's fackin shyte!!
Oh My God! What if the ref is WHITE!! The thought of a stern word towards Evra or even worse a yellow card and he will no doubt shout! I'm being racially abused!!! He's only doing this because I'm Black!!!!!!!!!
Suarez did admit to using the word black once - agreed.
Why did no Man United players appear at the hearing, and why did David De Gea who was standing 6 inches from 'this terrible vile abuse' not react in any way. Suarez spoke in Spanish and De Gea is Spanish and yet he didn't react at all. If none of your team mates stick up for you in any way it really shows what a well loved bloke he is.
Not saying Suarez is a saint but Evra is such a whining cry baby his own team really don't seem to give a monkeys what he's bleating about. 'Oh there goes Patricia again zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, wonder who is persecuting him today'
I would be interested to find out if Suarez calls his team-mates such as Glen Johnson negros, and if its not a racist insult (like he claims) why not. I know I'm assuming that the answer would be no and I would be happy to be corrected if I'm wrong but somehow I don't think I will be.
Cool, I look forward to welcoming him back to Anfield. To be fair, ManUre's only chance is to hope that Evra's presence gets Liverpools backs up, but we've dealt with massive knobheads before (G*ry N* vile) so this 'race card' playing pr ick aint gonna be a problem.
see the scouse SCUM are polluting these pages again with their filth. still can't accept that suarez is guilty. lets hope the tories revive their plan to let liverpoo rot.
Why shouldn't Evra play-he's the injured party-come on L'pool-show us your famous sportsmanship &fair play-
I don't think-
If United had won by getting 2 penalties they'd be accused of brown envelopes-double standards-like with Suarez-
I hope a big h-bomb lands in the centre circle at kick off.
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