 Ferdinand leaves clutching his ribs in Wednesday's 1-0 win at old Trafford
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Defender Rio Ferdinand is a major doubt for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The England star picked up a rib injury on Wednesday against Arsenal in the Champions League and is likely to miss the 1245 BST kick-off.
"I will bring some freshness into the team. The defence will be the same, apart from Rio, but the midfield and forwards could change completely."
If Ferdinand has broken a rib, he could miss the remainder of the season.
The 30-year-old has put in 40 appearances in all this season and has been a major factor in a United defence which has conceded just 23 League goals.
However, Nemanja Vidic seems likely to be partnered in the centre of defence by someone else on Saturday after Ferdinand left the field in some discomfort towards the end of Wednesday's match.
Liverpool - three points behind United having played an extra match - need Ferguson's team to slip up, and then beat Newcastle themselves on Sunday - to get back into the Premier League title hunt.
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Ferguson suggested Arsenal, who also play on Saturday, could afford to rest any number of players at Portsmouth before the two teams play the second leg of their semi-final next Tuesday at the Emirates, where the Gunners will try to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
"They can play (assistant manager) Pat Rice at right-back and (manager) Arsene Wenger at centre-forward on Saturday," said Ferguson. "We have to play a team to win the game."
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