Chris Smalling hopes Manchester United can bounce back at Liverpool

Chris Smalling is confident Manchester United can take their frustrations out on Liverpool on Sunday after their midweek disappointment at Newcastle.

United head for Anfield, live on Super Sunday, having slipped to sixth place in the Premier League after Steve McClaren's side scored in the 90th minute to grab a 3-3 draw at St James' Park on Tuesday night.

However, Smalling is hoping they can make Jurgen Klopp's men pay by completing a season double following their 3-1 victory over their rivals at Old Trafford in September.

He told MUTV: "In recent times, we've done very well against them - obviously this year at Old Trafford and last season we've got very good results, so we're very confident of going there and causing them a problem."

Smalling and his team-mates surrendered 2-0 and 3-2 leads against relegation-threatened Newcastle in midweek and the defender said United need to be stronger in such situations.

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First-half goals from Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard put them in charge and, after Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic had cancelled out their advantage, Rooney struck again 11 minutes from time before Paul Dummett lashed home a 90th-minute equaliser.

Smalling said: "If you came into the changing rooms after the match, it was like we'd lost the game. We put ourselves in such a good position and we could have finished it a little bit earlier, but even when we did so well to get to 3-2, we need to hold on and be a bit stronger.

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"We got that early goal which settled us down and we could have scored more, but it's about finding that balance so we're not giving away these sloppy goals just before half-time and just before the final whistle.

"They're key times in the game and we need to make sure we're switched on."

Smalling unwittingly deflected Dummett's strike past helpless keeper David de Gea after he had conceded the penalty from which Mitrovic made it 2-2 following a wrestling match with the Serbia international.

The 26-year-old was astonished to see referee Mike Dean, who had earlier awarded United a penalty for handball against Chancel Mbemba, point to the spot after allowing a series of other tussles go.

"We were both jostling for positions throughout the game," Smalling said. "The referee said we were both at it, so he didn't give anything and I think there needs to be that consistency with the decisions.

"You can see my shirt was clearly pulled as well, so it's just about consistency. If you're going to give them, fair enough, but you need to be giving them on a regular basis."