That'll do thricely for Carrick

Michael Carrick feels Manchester United could see themselves as being special if if they bag a Premier League hat-trick.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson's men are on FA Cup duty this weekend and face a fifth-round trip to Derby on Sunday, at the back of their minds is the knowledge that on Wednesday they entertain Fulham, when a win would send them five points clear of their only remaining realistic challengers Liverpool.

From there it would take a remarkable turnaround to deprive United of a third successive title for only the second time in their history.

"You have got something special if you win three in a row," said Carrick.

"It would be an amazing achievement and would show what a good team we have been over a consistent period.

"We have done a little bit of the work but there is an awful long way to go yet.

"This league has already shown there are some unexpected results to be thrown up.

"It would be incredible to do it but we have to earn that right."

Another visit to Pride Park will inevitably raise talk of an unprecedented quadruple, or even quintet if the already bagged Club World Cup is included.

The chances of it happening are virtually non-existent. Few expect United to be derailed by Nigel Clough's Championship side, though, even if they did lose to the Rams in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final last month.

As usual, Ferguson will shuffle his squad around, with Ben Foster tipped to replace record-breaker Edwin van der Sar in goal.

Patrice Evra and Wes Brown might also come into contention, although Wayne Rooney is set to remain on the sidelines after reportedly suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

With the first Champions League meeting with Inter Milan less than a fortnight away, Ferguson will not take any risks with his star striker.

Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs will be out to celebrate his one-year contract extension with another match-winning display.

As expected, the 35-year-old has agreed a new deal that will keep him at Old Trafford for an incredible 19th season.

"Ryan is a true professional of the game," Ferguson told www.manutd.com.

"His lifestyle, the way he looks after himself, his desire to always want to win is a credit to him and also an inspiration to any young kid who wants to become a footballer.

"He is like a young boy in the way that he plays and, although he wants to play every game, he understands that using his experience when it matters is a benefit to him and the team.

"It would be easy for him to be complacent after all he has achieved but he isn't and that speaks volumes of why the club wanted to extend his services and use that experience."

FA Cup Saturday LIVE!

Upsets may be on the way as Kettering Town are level after Craig Westcarr fires home a freekick! Meanwhile, Alex Bruce has equalised for Ipswich!

Team Line-ups:

Chelsea vs Ipswich

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Alex, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka

Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Drogba, Ferreira, Deco, Mancienne, Stoch

Ipswich: Richard Wright, David Wright, McAuley, Bruce, Garvan, Miller, Counago, Norris, Balkestein, Haynes, Walters

Subs: Supple, Lisbie, Stead, Bowditch, Quinn, Shumulikoski, Thatcher

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

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Sunderland vs Blackburn

Sunderland: Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Bardsley, Edwards, Leadbitter, Malbranque, Reid, Healy, Chopra

Subs: Colgan, McCartney, Cisse, Diouf, Murphy, Jones, Yorke

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Olsson, Mokoena, Grella, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, McCarthy

Subs: Bunn, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Villanueva, Givet, Haworth

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

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Hull vs Millwall

Hull: Warner, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Ashbee, Marney, Halmosi, Cousin, Manucho

Subs: Duke, Doyle, Geovanni, France, Mendy, Folan, Featherstone

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Craig, Frampton, Grabban, Laird, Abdou, Martin, Harris, McLeod

Subs: Pidgeley, Alexander, Hackett, Kandol, Grimes, O'Connor, Fuseini

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

---

Wolverhampton vs Middlesbrough

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Edwards, Shackell, Collins, Hill, Jarvis, Henry, David Jones, Reid, Iwelumo, Vokes

Subs: Craddock, Kightly, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh, Friend, Ikeme, Foley

Middlesbrough: Jones, Bates, Wheater, Riggott, Taylor, O'Neil, Sanli, Shawky, Adam Johnson, Downing, Alves

Subs: Hoyte, Emnes, McMahon, Porritt, Bennett, Turnbull, Craddock

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

---

Portsmouth vs Swansea

Portsmouth: James, Cranie, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent, Hughes, Davis, Armand Traore, Pennant, Crouch

Subs: Begovic, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Utaka, Mvuemba, Kanu

Swansea: Konstantopoulos, Rangel, Williams, Monk, Tate, Britton, Pratley, Allen, Gomez, Scotland, Dyer

Subs: De Vries, Orlandi, Gower, Tudur-Jones, Pintado, Bauza, Serran

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

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West Brom vs Burnley

West Brom: Carson, Hoefkens, Pele, Donk, Robinson, Kim, Greening, Filipe Teixeira, Koren, Simpson, Bednar

Subs: Kiely, Cech, Brunt, Dorrans, Zuiverloon, Borja Valero, Fortune

Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Elliott, Alexander, McCann, Eagles, Blake, Paterson

Subs: Penny, McDonald, Gudjonsson, Mahon, Rodriguez, MacDonald, Thompson

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

---

Kettering vs Fulham

Kettering: Harper, Eaden, Geohaghan, Dempster, Jaszczun, Bennett, Boucaud, Solkhon, Richard Graham, Westcarr, Seddon

Subs: Beardsley, Potter, Marna, Wrack, Galbraith

Fulham: Schwarzer, Stoor, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Andreasen, Etuhu, Gera, Johnson, Dempsey

Subs: Zuberbuhler, Pantsil, Zamora, Nevland, Murphy, Kallio, Baird

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

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Doncaster vs Aston Villa

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts, Woods, Stock, Wellens, Coppinger, Guy, Spicer

Subs: Taylor, Price, Van Nieuwstadt, Wilson, Lockwood, Heffernan, Byfield

Aston Villa: Friedel, Davies, Cuellar, Knight, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Petrov, Barry, Shorey, Milner, Agbonlahor

Subs: Harewood, Delfouneso, Salifou, Guzan, Gardner, Osbourne, Clark

Referee: Mark Halsey (England)

---

Sheff United vs Charlton

Sheff United: Bennett, Jihai, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Halford, Naughton, Montgomery, Webber, Sharp, Henderson

Subs: Haber, Cotterill, Hendrie, Carney, Howard, Walker

Charlton: Elliot, Moutaouakil, Fortune, Hudson, Youga, Shelvey, Bailey, Ambrose, Holland, Sam, Burton

Subs: Randolph, Gray, Wagstaff, Dickson, Racon, Basey, Clark

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)

---

Torquay vs Coventry

Torquay: Bevan, Mansell, Hodges, Woods, Nicholson, Carlisle, Wroe, Hargreaves, DSane, Sills, Green

Subs: Poke, Robertson, Benyon, Thompson, Carayol, Stevens, Adams

Coventry: Westwood, Gunnarsson, Hall, Turner, Fox, Mifsud, Doyle, Beuzelin, McKenzie, Eastwood, Morrison

Subs: Marshall, Ward, Dann, Thornton, Walker, Fraser, Wynter

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

---

Watford vs Crystal Palace

Watford: Loach, Hoyte, DeMerit, Mariappa, Doyley, Cork, McAnuff, Harley, Jenkins, Rasiak, Hoskins

Subs: Searle, Sadler, Bridcutt, Eustace, Bangura, O'Toole, Kiernan

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence, Fonte, Hill, Derry, Danns, Ifill, Oster, Lee, Moses

Subs: Fletcher, Carle, Flahavan, Scannell, Hills, Butterfield, Kuqi

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

---

Hartlepool 0-2 West Ham

Click here for the result summary!

Fergie rules out transfer swoops

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will not dip into the transfer market to solve his defensive injury crisis.

Ferguson will be without an entire back four when his side tackle Tottenham in the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

In fact, the problem is worse than that: if Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs fail to recover from minor knocks, the Red Devils will be missing a dozen regular members of their first-team squad.

Most are short-term injuries, with Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand among those tipped to be fit in time to face Everton on February 2.

And Ferguson has already dismissed the idea of bringing in reinforcements, even on loan, to ease United through their troubles.

"No, I won't be doing that," confirmed the Scot.

Instead, he will rely on youngsters such as Richard Eckersley and Fabio, twin brother of right-back Rafael, one of the men injured, plus central defender James Chester to plug any gaps, with Darren Fletcher tipped to fill the right-back berth against Spurs.

"I do have options," said Ferguson.

"Hopefully Neville will be OK, then I can play Fletcher at right-back, so with Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea we would have an experienced back four.

"Alternatively, if we thought Eckersley or Fabio could be one of the full-backs Fletcher can play in midfield."

As Tottenham are similarly affected, from a smaller pool of players, it might not have too much impact on the outcome on Saturday.

However, with West Brom to face on Tuesday, then Everton next Monday - unless either United or the Toffeemen require an FA Cup replay in which case the game will be moved back to January 31 - it is a worrying repeat of two years ago.

Then Ferguson's squad was ravaged by injuries, which the United chief feels cost them any chance of Champions League glory as they were dumped out by AC Milan in the semi-final.

"At the moment we have got a lot of injuries that will affect us for the next three matches," said Ferguson.

"However, if we get over the Everton game, hopefully we will be OK."

At least Anderson, who was stretchered off after the final whistle on Tuesday, should only be out for three weeks with ligament damage, with Jonny Evans sidelined for a similar length of time after aggravating an ankle injury as United reached the Carling Cup Final.

However, the mountain of injuries has had Ferguson once again raising the prospect of a winter break, which has always been resisted by the Premier League.

"We are not the best position because there are a lot of games in January," said Ferguson.

"At this time of year players often carry little strains, which eventually become injuries that force them to miss games.

"That is why managers for years have pursued the hope they will have a winter break. Unfortunately, it is not to be."

Moyes: Anfield is intimidating

David Moyes is optimistic Everton can end a near 10-year drought at Anfield when they take them on this weekend.

The Toffees last won at the home of their near neighbours in September 1999, but their last visit in the Barclays Premier League on Monday saw them snatch a 1-1 draw through Tim Cahill's late header.

They make the short trip across Stanley Park again, this time for an FA Cup fourth-round tie.

Moyes is expecting another tough test for his injury-ravaged side, believing the result earlier this week will have no bearing on tomorrow's match.

One thing he is certain about, though, is that neither side will want a replay.

"It is a physical and mental challenge that we have to play Liverpool twice at Anfield in a week," he said.

"It is a tough call - you are going to a very good football club with a good team. Anfield is an intimidating place to go to play - it is a noisy stadium.

"It is always going to ask questions of you. But certainly in the first game we were able to answer them - and we hope we can do it in the second game.

"I don't think anyone would be mad for another game, so from that point of view we hope to go out and try to settle the tie."

Kirkby-born Leighton Baines experienced his first full 90 minutes of Merseyside derby as a player on Monday - before that he had made only two short substitute appearances since signing from Wigan in the summer of 2007.

He feels Everton are well-placed to break their drought at Anfield, and is relishing a return so soon.

"It's all good fun, but you never forget how massive these games are," he said.

"There is so much pride at stake. We had to go to Anfield (on Monday) and get something from the game, because the last few derbies haven't gone well for us.

"It gives us confidence that we can go back and acquit ourselves well.

"We feel that we can go over there and win. But every derby has got to be treated as an individual - and you can't read too much into what has happened."

Despite having a slight psychological advantage after robbing second-placed Liverpool of three much-needed points, Baines warns the Toffees cannot be complacent.

"There is no chance of us getting carried away," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's half-time, if you like - so there is no point in us singing and shouting, just because we got a point in the league game.

"It would be even worse if we came back and didn't do ourselves justice.

"We have got to come out and prove that what we did on Monday night wasn't a fluke. We've got to aim to produce something better."

Defender Joseph Yobo, who has missed four matches with a hamstring injury, is set to return to the squad - which is still without midfielder Marouane Fellaini, completing a two-game ban.

Wenger: We are not scared!

Arsene Wenger maintains his stars must show no fear when their FA Cup ambitions are put on the line at Ninian Park.

Striker Robin van Persie has already warned his team-mates to expect a hot reception at the famous old ground, which is set to be demolished when the Bluebirds move to their new stadium at the start of next season.

The Gunners are set to take a strong squad to Wales, likely to included former Cardiff midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Wenger - who continues to remain hopeful of landing main transfer target Andrei Arshavin - insists whichever XI he fields tomorrow, they will be able to handle the pressure.

"It should help us to focus and prepare, but not worry us because that would mean we are scared and we are not scared," declared the Arsenal manager.

"We know in a cup tie away from home against a Championship team you need full commitment.

"We are a Premier League team at the top of the league and that is why we want to show when we go to these kinds of places that we can compete and show everyone why we are where we are."

Wenger continued: "We are confident, but what we want is to keep our run going and a good focus on every game.

"Every game we win makes us stronger and that's why we want to win the next one.

"This will, though, be a tricky cup game against a good Championship side, so you want to be on your toes and focused."

Teenager Ramsey came up through the youth ranks at Cardiff, with his farewell appearance for them coming in last season's FA Cup final defeat to Portsmouth at Wembley.

The Wales international, who opted for Emirates Stadium instead of Old Trafford in a £5million summer move, has impressed during his first campaign at the top level.

A debut in the Champions League qualifier away to Steve McClaren's FC Twente has been followed by appearances in all competitions - including a first European goal at Fenerbahce.

Wenger is delighted with the 18-year-old's development.

"I love Aaron Ramsey and I believe he will be a great player for Arsenal - but we don't go there for a testimonial. We go there to qualify," he said.

"Aaron is ahead of schedule and I am impressed by what he has done by now, but he is only 18."

Wenger, meanwhile, remains relaxed about Arsenal's chase for Arshavin.

Zenit St Petersburg appear to have softened their stance on the £20million fee demanded for the 27-year-old playmaker, and have indicated a "logical conclusion" to the protracted saga could soon be achieved.

Wenger said: "I am not frustrated because I understand the situation.

"You know in football that you need the agreement of three parties to buy a player.

"You have to accept that everybody has a price and when the buyer has a certain amount of money and not more.

"If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."