Lucas: Rooney v Torres is the crucial clash

LIVERPOOL midfielder Lucas Leiva believes tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash against arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow will be decided by the strikers.

United's Wayne Rooney is in the form of his life with 32 goals for the club this season, while Liverpool's Fernando Torres has hit four in his last two games to take his tally to 17 in 27 appearances.

Torres has a better recent record against United than vice-versa, having been on target in his last two matches against the Red Devils. Rooney has not scored in 10 matches against Liverpool, his last goal coming in January 2005.

Liverpool head into the match on the back of two victories – over Portsmouth and Lille in the Europa League – in which Torres has scored twice in each.

Lucas said: "The United match will be more difficult than the first two games this week because they are fighting for the title," said the Brazil midfielder, who is expected to keep his place in the side having been dropped for man of the match Alberto Aquilani against Pompey.

"They have a really good striker in Rooney who is scoring a lot of goals. Unfortunately Fernando has had too many injuries but he is back and has scored four goals in the last two matches."