ROONEY BACKS RVP ALLIANCE

Wayne Rooney understands why his partnership with Robin van Persie is scrutinised in the media and the Manchester United striker says both men are working hard to prove their critics wrong.

Although Rooney and Van Persie have scored 27 goals between them this season, not to mention another 46 during the title-winning 2012/13 campaign, their relationship has come under the microscope following a number of disappointing results.
During an exclusive interview with MUTV ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool, Wayne was asked to discuss his work with Robin.
“I think we are doing alright. Obviously, we can do better and if we are not at the top of the league then that will get looked at and we understand that," Wayne explained. "Personally, we can score more goals and we know we can. We are working hard to do that, we have to keep going and hopefully that will come.”
Liverpool visit Old Trafford with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in white-hot form, having scored 45 goals between them. Although Rooney does not enjoy seeing United's great rivals riding so high in the table, the 28-year-old is begrudgingly impressed by both strikers.
“I think they are both fantastic players and obviously it is good to see Sturridge doing well because he has never really had a chance at his previous clubs,” Wayne explained. “Brendan
Rodgers has given him a chance and he has taken it with both hands. That is good for England as well.
“Suarez, for me, is up there with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world. He has been that good and the two of them together have been in great form this season. We will have to do everything we can to stop them on Sunday.”
This weekend’s game is the second of six important fixtures in March, a run of games that includes high-profile collisions with Olympiacos and local rivals Manchester City.  While some players might be intimidated by such a sequence, Rooney can’t wait to get started.
“It is a massive couple of weeks for us with the Liverpool, City and Olympiacos games standing out,” Wayne explained. “It could be a massive two weeks for us if we can get the right results. It would put us back on track and keep us with a chance of getting into that top four.
“We know how important these games are and we have worked really hard in training to make sure we are ready for them. We are just looking forward to the Liverpool game on Sunday now.”