Another stinging defeat for Rafa, while an injury time equaliser sickens Wenger. Here’s some notes from last night’s encounters…

Liverpool are in tatters, both in terms of form and personnel. Having aggravated his groin injury last night, Gerrard is now a major concern for the collision with United. Torres missed out with his thigh injury and remains a doubt and you can add Glen Johnson to that list. He missed last night’s Lyon defeat with yet another groin problem. So Liverpool could go into the United game without arguably their top three performers. Oh and Albert Riera. He missed last night with a hamstring problem. At least we know Benayoun will start. The Kop will insist on it.

The conclusion? Right now, it’s hard to see Liverpool having the weapons or the impetus to take anything from the United game. Having said that, the visitors have injury problems of their own though and we could see some unlikely names on the teamsheets. The game at Anfield looks a nasty, unpredicatable one for us fantasy managers then.

As for the Gunners draw with AZ – the big surprise for me was Wenger’s decision to keep faith with Mannone. I imagine it came as a shock to Mr Almunia too. To be fair, the Italian has largely been outstanding since taking over from a stricken Almunia but I fully expected a recall for the Spaniard after Mannone’s slip for Bowyer’s goal at the weekend. He now seems likely to hold his starting role for the trip to Upton Park this weekend which will keep him on our radars, although with Spurs, Sunderland and Chelsea to come in the next five, the fixture list does few favours for the Arsenal rearguard.