Van Nistelrooy 'can still improve'

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is being handed a daily diet of self-improvement by Manchester United. The Dutch striker goes into tomorrow's match at Liverpool looking to add to his 16-goal tally after scoring five in the past two games – two against Basle in midweek coming on the back of a hat-trick against Newcastle.

Both games ended in United victories and he now looks to have fully recovered from the hamstring injury that saw him miss seven matches this season. Van Nistelrooy's scoring exploits – 52 goals in 68 games since arriving at Old Trafford – have seen him compared to some of the great names in the game.

However, United's assistant manager Carlos Quieroz said: "Ruud can improve but he cannot progress thinking about being compared to other forwards. What is important for Ruud and for ourselves is that tomorrow should be a better day. He must perform better than the day before.

"That is the way he should think, that is the way he should behave every day. At the moment he is one of the best forwards around and a dream to work with. Our goal is to make him better."

On Merseyside, Danny Murphy has warned United that Steven Gerrard is back to his best after Liverpool's 1-0 Uefa Cup win in Arnhem on Thursday, his first start since criticism from his manager Gérard Houllier.

"I felt Stevie did very well," Murphy said. "He showed appetite, he was biting into the tackles, which is the Steven Gerrard we all know and love. Physically he looked back to his sharp self, which is really good for the team. A fully fit Steven makes us a better team than when we haven't got him. He took the criticism really well, he has really bounced back."

Houllier said the midweek success will have got his team in the right frame of mind and dismissed suggestions that United's form gives Liverpool the edge. "Teams go through difficult periods and they seem to be coming out of it," he said. "When we met them last season they were in great form, we put an end to a long winning run for them, but this time we are both in the same situation – they have picked up their form and we are also getting back to normal.

"The only regret I have is that we have just two-and-a-half days between the games because of the lunchtime kick-off. But we will put up with that. The last time we had to put up with this sort of schedule was two seasons ago when we went on to win three trophies including the Uefa Cup, so we can handle it."