Scholes rues disruptions

Paul Scholes says the recent World Cup qualifiers make the outcome of Saturday's lunchtime encounter at Anfield even more unpredictable.

Scholesy has been among only a handful of players training at United’s Carrington headquarters this week as most Reds headed off to aid their country’s bid to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"There have been four or five of us training and that does disrupt it massively - especially when we have an early kick-off on Saturday," Scholes told MUTV.

"We (the whole group) will get an hour of training probably on Friday. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. We will just have to wait and see on Saturday.”

Fortunately, Liverpool are in the same situation. "It’s the same for every team. Liverpool will have a lot of players out; Chelsea will have every player out as well. These are historically tough games and whenever you play them it isn't any different. You need to play these games at some stage during the season."

The 33-year-old will be as vital as ever when United take on Liverpool on Saturday, and he says the influx of youthful midfielders at Old Trafford has allowed him to focus on the passing game that still sets him apart from his Premier League peers.

"It’s good having the youngsters in because they can do all the running for you,” he joked. “You can just sit and pass the ball to them and off they go.

"You try to give a little bit of advice to them, but not too much,” he adds. “They don't need much talking to. I just say to them to do exactly what has got them here. The manager has seen something in them that has got them to this stage, so why stop that?”