No prizes for guessing what occupies the nation's scribes on Sunday morning. There is only one story dominating the agenda and that, of course, is the titanic battle between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield.

For a rousing preview of the game that encapsulates perfectly the pressure on Liverpool following a run of four consecutive defeats, look no further than the Observer's Paul Hayward. Excellent as always, in 'Liverpool and Rafa Benítez arrive at the tipping point of their ambitions', Hayward leaves Reds fans in no doubt as to the importance of Sunday's game.

"Back in his days as Aberdeen manager, Alex Ferguson motored south to Anfield to spy on Bob Paisley's Liverpool. There, he ran into the retired Bill Shankly, who growled: 'So you're down to have a look at our great team?'

"Aberdeen lost 1-0 and 4-0 to Paisley's reds in the ensuing European Cup tie and Ferguson learned a lesson in power. Almost two decades later, the Manchester United ruler speeds west knowing that a victory today could erase Liverpool's hopes of staying level with United on 18 league titles. Chelsea, Arsenal and perhaps Manchester City would still stand between Ferguson's men and win number 19, but a fifth Premier League defeat for Liverpool would complete a quintet of consecutive losses for Rafa Benítez and light a fire under his five-year reign.

"For once hyperbole is absent from the declaration that today's derby could be an epochal contest. It could sour the love between Benítez and the Kop, hasten the team's descent towards the Europa League and spark a full rebellion against the Stadler and Waldorf pair who borrowed to buy a community treasure without understanding its role as extended family. Xabi Alonso, sold to Real Madrid, said this month of his time on Merseyside: 'They are a special institution. I jumped into the pool of their history and philosophy.'"

After consecutive defeats to Fiorentina, Chelsea, Sunderland and Lyon, Benitez has blamed injury problems and has also sought to defend his record in the transfer market as Liverpool manager, with a number of sources producing lengthy lists of the 'flops' during his reign. But Benitez's pleas of poverty hold little water with Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey in the Sunday Times.

In 'It's time to get real, Rafael Benitez', the pair examine in more detail Benitez's claims that he has had his hands tied by a lack of finance during his time at Anfield.

"Playing guests come and go. Defeat by Manchester United today would extinguish, in record time, another title challenge and ensure Liverpool’s worst run of results in 56 years. Their manager gives a practised defence. Benitez, citing injuries, blames manpower issues for the crisis. For a sixth season at Anfield he suggests he is underfunded and thwarted by superiors from concluding the transfers he needs. United, Chelsea — and Arsenal, because of Arsène Wenger’s “hidden” spending on youth recruits and player wages — have always been more privileged; so, now, are Manchester City.

"Yet, for a man whose hands are tied, Benitez has a remarkable knack of getting his fingers on the chequebook. Since joining Liverpool in June 2004, he has spent an estimated £256m on players and recouped £134m through sales. His £122m net outlay is outstripped by Chelsea’s over the same period but otherwise Benitez’s poverty pleas seem emptier than Nick Griffin’s skull. United are down just £27m on player trading and Arsenal are in profit by the same amount. And look at Benitez’s volume of activity: 79 permanent signings, 63 sales and 82 loans in and out. That all means Liverpool have completed a transfer transaction for every eight days and 18 hours of their manager’s reign. Players booking into Casa Rafa should request an hourly room rate.

"Liverpool’s current plight seems opposite to what their most recent meeting with United foretold. The 4-1 win at Old Trafford in March, while too late to swing the 2008-09 title their way, set up Liverpool as prime contenders for the 2009-10 Premier League. But Xabi Alonso, Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa went and Glen Johnson, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Alberto Aquilani arrived. Kyrgiakos is a reserve. Aquilani, costing £20m, is yet to play in the first team because of injury and Johnson struggles to justify the £18m price for a right-back. Meanwhile, Alonso has been princely for Real Madrid, Arbeloa is playing for Spain and Hyypia, top of the Bundesliga with Bayern Leverkusen, has been voted the best defender in Germany.

"Benitez has traded and spent significantly, seemingly without advancing his club. None of the left-backs (Emiliano Insua, Fabio Aurelio, Andrea Dossena) he bought for a combined £8m appears superior to the one (Stephen Warnock) he jettisoned for £1.5m. Getting Fernando Torres, even for £26.5m, was genius but how many of the other 33 strikers and wingers he has signed were good deals?"