Angel di Maria will miss Manchester United's crunch match against Liverpool tomorrow.

United's record signing has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and will not be in the match day squad this weekend, manager Louis van Gaal confirmed at his pre-match press conference yesterday.

The good news for Van Gaal is that defenders Rafael and Phil Jones are both back from their long-term groin and shin injuries.

aving seen his first campaign interrupted by injuries, it is something of a relief for the Dutchman to see Jones and Rafael return. The duo have both been out for almost two months.

"Now, I have only four players injured, so that's better than ever I believe," the United manager said.

"Only (Luke) Shaw, (Chris) Smalling, Di Maria and (Daley) Blind (are out)."

United and Liverpool share an intense rivalry and a long history of titanic top of the table battles, but both clubs have fallen on hard times of late.

United finished seventh under David Moyes last season and are eight points off the top of the table now following a mixed start under Van Gaal.

Opposite number Brendan Rodgers came agonisingly close to lifting the title last season, but his team crumbled in the home straight and this year they are way off the pace and down in ninth position.

Gary Neville claimed on Monday United and Liverpool resembled two pub teams this year while ex assistant manager Mike Phelan also weighed in with criticism of the club's physio department.

Van Gaal could not care less, though.

When asked whether he or his squad had been affected by the criticism, he replied: "No, because I don't think somebody who is living outside the community of Manchester United can judge how we are doing. It is based on no facts. I analyse everything and it is based on no facts."

Rodgers suffered the latest blow on Tuesday night when Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League following a 1-1 draw against Basle.

The Merseysiders have won two of their last nine games while United have recorded five straight wins to move into the top three for the first time since the opening day of last season.

Van Gaal rejected the opportunity to criticise Rodgers' men and diplomatically stated that Liverpool had merely been the victim of bad fortune so far this season.

"In the last matches of Liverpool, they were a little bit unlucky," the 63-year-old said.

"You have to survive that; you have to manage that. We have managed our first five matches, so I'm very pleased with that in spite of our list of injuries. That is very good, I think. As a manager, you have to give a lot of credit to the players because it's not so easy."

United's latest victory came on Monday when they beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's Stadium.

United were outplayed for long spells, but still came away with three points thanks to Robin van Persie's brace.

Van Persie had struggled to recapture his form following a long World Cup campaign with Holland, but he claims he is now back to his best.

"Over the past couple of weeks I've been feeling very well physically," said the former Arsenal striker, who has scored four in his last five for club and country.

"I feel like I can make more runs and keep things going up until the last bit of the game. I feel good and I don't think it's a coincidence that the goals are flowing in much better now."

Van Persie looked a shadow of the man who fired United to the title two years ago at the start of this campaign.

But the 31-year-old insists he is not over the hill yet.

"When you hit 30 and you're having a bad spell everyone say it's because you're 30 or 31 and things might be over for you," Van Persie added on MUTV.

"I don't think it's an age thing - I live a quiet life for my football and I'm almost convinced now that I will play for many years to come at the highest level, at least that's what I want and what I'm aiming for. The age thing is not an issue for me at all."