Ferguson happy with fiery Rooney ahead of Liverpool game

Wayne Rooney’s temperament has once again been getting all the headlines after his needless and petulant sending-off against Montenegro last Friday – but one man who isn’t worried is Sir Alex Ferguson.

United head into their game against Liverpool at the weekend as narrow favourites at 11/8 and Ferguson – who knows a thing or two about dealing with temperamental characters – believes Rooney is now mentally better than ever.

Ferguson said: “I think Wayne has shown tremendous improvement in terms of his temperament, his reaction to tackles and things like that over the past few years.

“As maturity comes it brings other things. It brings responsibility and I think he’s improving all the time.

“It was one of these reflex actions by the boy. He’s been tackled and he’s reacted.

“He’s got the fiery temper, you know, which I don’t think is the worst thing in the world.”

However, Rooney’s maturity will be tested to the limit against Liverpool.

The former Everton man is never exactly a popular figure at Anfield and all the focus will be on the striker during the clash.

If you fancy Rooney to rise to the occasion then he can be backed as 6/1 favourite to be the first goalscorer during Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

However, with everything pointing to Steven Gerrard being in the Liverpool starting line-up, he can be backed at 12/1 to score the first goal and grab all the headlines.