Not much was revealed in regards to the injury situation for the Manchester United squad during manager Sir Alex Ferguson's weekly press conference on Friday. Fergie isn't typically forthcoming anyway when commenting on the availability of his squad but his comments today were especially brief:

"I can’t give you much of an update on injuries. Hopefully we'll have two or three training this morning and we'll be better by tomorrow. It is not the best situation for us."

Source: ManUtd.com

At the current moment, it is believed that up to 12 players may potentially be unavailable for United's visit to Anfield tomorrow for their FA Cup clash versus Liverpool FC. Darren Fletcher and captain Nemanja Vidic are already confirmed to be out for the remainder of the current season due to illness and injury, respectively. In addition, the likes of Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley, Anderson, and Michael Owen are all believed to out as well as they continue to recover from their injuries. Furthermore, during United's 2-1 away victory over Arsenal last weekend, Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney, Nani, and Michael Carrick all picked up knocks -- their availability for Anfield is uncertain. Rio Ferdinand's availability is uncertain as well after he missed the Arsenal tie due to his recurring back injury.

Of the "two or three" that Fergie is hoping for that could come through in training today, Ando, Young, Cleverley, Carrick, and Ferdinand appear to the most likeliest candidates. Ando, Young, and Cleverley are all though to be nearing full recovery while Carrick's hamstring knock isn't though to be too severe -- the midfielder was able to finish the match at the Emirates after sustaining the knock. Ferdinand's back situation is simply an unpredictable one as he's recently been both a surprise inclusion or exclusion on matchdays.

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Not for the first time this season, Sir Alex Ferguson has written to the fans of Manchester United that are making the trip to Anfield. The gaffer has repeated the action he took before the league game in October, stressing the fans to behave, so the club can protect the allocation of tickets we are allowed. For the FA Cup game on Saturday, we will now have a much improved allocation, an increase from October when it was reduced.

From BBC Sport

"I wrote to fans attending the away match in October urging them to co-operate with stewards and officials at Liverpool, so we can make a strong case for restoring our allocation for future United games at Anfield," said the letter from Ferguson.

"The fans did almost everything asked of them that day and, as a result, we have a much improved allocation for this important FA Cup tie.

"Please do everything you can to continue that good work and protect next season's allocation."

Saturday's match is going to be a massive game for both clubs. The first time the two teams have met since the recent rascism row involving Luis Suarez & Patrice Evra. Sir Alex has taken the measure to warn the fans not to misbehave so the club can retain the improved allocation for next season, allowing valuable support to the club in "enemy territory", against are fiercest rivals.

All in all a good measure taken by Fergie. He is such a monumental personality & is adored by the fans, that any would be wrong doer's may just listen to him.

This is something I am going to try & make a regular thing here. Pretty much what it says on the tin. Rate the players, 1-10, on their performance's during the game. Here are the ratings against Arsenal

A score of 1 being the lowest (Bebe standard), 10 being the highest (Messi like) A score of 6 will be standard, 7 is solid, a very good game will get an 8, 9 is good for outstanding and 10 is unplayable. 10's will be very rare. Not only will they have to play the game of their life, but it will usually come against a team of good quality or in a big match (FInals, championship deciding game's etc.)

Anything less than a 6 is sub par and they should be doing better.

Anders Lindegaard - Was solid. Not much more you can ask for than that from a keeper. Claimed the high balls well and was a good presence at the back. The goal he let in wasn't unsaveable, he got a hand on it, but it was still a good finish. On a good day he might have saved it, but it wasn't as though it was a major mistake or anything. 7/10

Phil Jones - DIdn't get himself into the game before he went off injured. Can't really give a score on that N/A (Twisted Ankle)

Chris Smalling - Very good performance. Dealt with every cross that I can remember and commanded the back line well, Really was a dominating figure at the back and him and Evans kept Van Persie as quiet as they could up untill the Dutchman's goal. If he can perform like this week in week out, he will soon be first choice, even when Nemja Vidic & Rio Ferdinand are fit! 8.5/10

Jonny Evans - Didn't have quite as good as game as Smalling IMO, but that is nothing to be ashamed of. Always got bullied in the air last year but his ariel prowess is now a strength, as highlighted by his 5/6 ariel duals won. 7/10

Patrice Evra - Was fantastic going forward, but then how hard can it be when Nani was tearing Djourou apart? Was also solid at the back too, although he still got skinned at least once easily when one on one, a part of his game that has let him down a few times this season. Still, he is deserving of an 8/10

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TEAM STATISTICS

* Anders Lindegaard (goalkeeper): 20/39 passing (51%), 1 goal conceded, 2 saves

* Chris Smalling (right-center-back): 23/28 passing (82%), 3/4 long balls, 0 tackles, 1 interception, 11 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 1 foul, 10/16 aerial duels (63%)

* Jonny Evans (left-center-back): 37/43 passing (86%), 7/8 long balls (88%), 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 7 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls, 7/8 aerial duels (86%)

* Phil Jones (right-back | substituted off 17'): 7/8 passing (86%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls, 0 clearances, 0/0 aerial duels

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 52/69 passing (75%), 1 key pass, 0/3 crosses, 2/5 long balls, 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 1 foul, 5/6 aerial duels (83%)

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It was a tremendous 2-1 victory for Manchester United over Arsenal FC at the Emirates. However, the defeat of the North Londoners came at a price -- Phil Jones was stretchered off in the 17th minute and it was revealed after the match by manager Sir Alex Ferguson that his defender will be out for a few weeks. Here is what Fergie had to say about Jones:

"It's not good news for us. I think Jones will be out for a few weeks - it's ankle ligaments. Carrick was feeling his hamstring in the second half and he just had to sit in the middle of the pitch."

Source: MUTV

In addition -- as Fergie mentions in the quote above -- Michael Carrick sustained a knock on his hamstring and was forced to carry on with it in the 2nd half as he played the full 90 minutes. Furthermore, Nani was substituted off in the 75th minute after sustaining a knock of his own. Despite also playing the full 90 minutes, the duo of Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney also sustained knocks as well -- the severity of their injuries and Carrick's was not revealed.

Rio Ferdinand was unavailable for this tie due to his lingering back issues. With Jones out, captain Nemanja Vidic's season ending injury, and with Rio's chronic back problem, that leaves only Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans as the only healthy options at center-back for now.

On the flanks, Ashley Young is already out and if Nani is forced to miss matches in the near future, that likely means more playing time for Park Ji-sung -- opposite of the in-form Antonio Valencia. Ryan Giggs can still provide cover here while both Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck can do a job as wide attackers as well.

Carrick has become the most important player for United in the center of the pitch as of late and if he were to be unavailable for next week's FA Cup tie versus Liverpool at Anfield, United's choices in the center of the park would be limited. Tom Cleverley appears to still be a few weeks away from recovery while the recently returned Anderson was unavailable for Arsenal. Jones' injury also prevents him from being an option here. The only natural options in central-midfield -- if Carrick were to be sidelined -- would be Giggs and Paul Scholes.

Well, it got a little tense in the second half, but we got the three points and played quite well I thought. Danny Welbeck clinched the three points late in the second half after Robin Van Persie's equaliser. Antonio Valencia put us ahead as half time approached after he powerfully headed home a quite fantastic Ryan Giggs cross.

I think we were good value for our win. Thomas Vermaelen made a return to the Arsenal backline and early on he did a good job on the in form Valencia. However Nani on the left constantly ripped Arsenal apart and Djourou was awful. Nani really had the beating of him all day long and Wenger had to throw on novice Nicholas Yennaris.

At times we rode our luck too. Van Persie had a fantastic chance to equalise early in the second half, but with the goal gaping, he fizzed his shot wide from about 12 yards.

The winner came from the right boot of Danny Welbeck. Valencia made a fantastic run, played a one two with Ji-Sung-Park, and the ball fell to the young England striker who slotted away.

A special mention to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal. The youngster made his first start in the Premier League, and only his third appearance. He was a threat all day and made a quite wonderful assist for Van Persie's goal. The first touch in particular was sublime.

A couple pieces of bad news came today. First, Phil Jones went off early with an injury that probably looked worse than it was. Early indications suggest he twisted his ankle, but I guess he will be extremely doubtful for next week.

The other came from the blue half of Manchester. With the game at 2-2, Jermaine Defoe had a wonderful chance to win it in injury time for Spurs. Man City went up the other end and sub Mario Balotelli was upended by Ledley King in the box. Super Mario then slotted the penalty with ease. That was effectivley a three point swing in CIty's favour right there, and ended a quite brilliant second half.

Manchester United sit three points behind CIty. Please share any thoughts you have on today's game.