Manchester United trio Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Fabio will all be ready to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The three all started the 1-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in Russia on Wednesday (United 13/2 Outright) but were taken off in the second half, with Wes Brown, Michael Owen and Michael Carrick coming on respectively.

However, Fergie insists it was merely a precautionary move as he looks ahead to the clash with Rafa Benitez’s strugglers at Anfield this weekend (Liverpool 19/10, draw 2/1, United 6/4).

The Scot said: “Fabio was absolutely outstanding today, the boy’s magnificent for 18 years of age. He’s first-class, he just had some cramp, he’ll be okay. I took Rio and Scholesy off mainly as a precaution.”

United seized control of Champions League Group B after Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia’s strike late on in Moscow made it three wins out of three.

Liverpool are up next as United look to inflict what could be a fatal blow on their fiercest rivals’ Premier League title hopes, with the Reds struggling with injuries to a number of key player including Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

United travelled to Russia without Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park and it remains to be seen if they will return to the squad for the trip to Anfield.