Manchester United Star Looking to ‘Do’ Liverpool ‘On Their Own Patch’

Manchester United youngster Chris Smalling suggests the players have not even thought about their upcoming FA Cup tie against Liverpool this weekend, although he does concede it will be nice to 'do them on their own patch'.

Fresh from beating Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, Manchester United face a daunting looking fixture against Liverpool at Anfield, which will inevitably be intensified due to the well-documented race case involving Patrice Evra and the subsequently suspended Luis Suarez.

Smalling intimates Manchester United have merely been concentrating on the next game and taking each one on their own merit, but because of their imposing next few fixtures, including a trip to Chelsea and Tottenham on the horizon, the defender claims Sir Alex Ferguson should try to enjoy it.

The 21-year-old defender believes Manchester United's victory over Arsenal has given the club a huge boost as they bid to defend their Premier League crown, but also ahead of their trip to Liverpool.

"To be honest, we've not really thought about it (trip to Liverpool)," The Manchester United youngster told Skysports.com.

"The manager spoke before that we've got five or six massive games coming up and I think he just wants us to enjoy it.

"That's what I'm certainly going to do.

"It'll be nice to do them on their own patch, just like we have done (to Arsenal) here."

Smalling excelled in his more familiar centre-back role against Arsenal on Sunday, and is likely to be retained in the heart of Manchester United's defence for their game against Liverpool.

Manchester United are without the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones and possibly Rio Ferdinand, suggesting Smalling and Jonny Evans will continue to deputise, and the former admits he is pleased to be back in his favourite position.

"It's nice to come back into the centre," he continued. "I've had a frustrating last month with the illness etc.

"But I'm feeling fit as a fiddle now and hopefully I can have a good run until the end of the season."

Liverpool host Manchester United on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round. The match kicks off at Anfield at 12:45.