Jamie Carragher would not select club captain Steven Gerrard for Liverpool 's top-four showdown with Manchester United at Anfield next Sunday . While Gary Neville says Angel di Maria , available again after serving a one-match suspension , should return to Louis van Gaal 's side in favour in Juan Mata despite United 's convincing win against Tottenham at the weekend . Gerrard made his first appearance for Brendan Rodgers ' side since early February when he came on as a second-half substitute against Swansea on Monday . Steven Gerrard returned to the Liverpool team as a second-half substitute against Swansea on Monday . Former defender Jamie Carragher says Gerrard should not start against Manchester United on Sunday . Liverpool remained unbeaten during Gerrard 's recent injury lay-off Carragher says he will have to settle for a place on the bench . And Sportsmail columnist Carragher would not bring the captain back into the starting XI for the crucial clash at Anfield . 'No I would n't , ' Carragher said on Sky Sports ' Monday Night Football show . 'The team is playing well . They 're on a great run since Steven 's been out the team . 'Unfortunately , and he 'll know himself , when you go out the team and they continue on a great run it 's hard to get back in . 'It 's unfortunate for him but we 've all been there towards the end of our careers . There are players playing too well that you ca n't leave them out . ' Carragher says that Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen can not be dropped from the team . Carragher would also play Raheem Sterling up front , like he did during the win against Manchester City . Sportsmail columnist Carragher would sacrifice Daniel Sturridge because he is not back to his best yet . Carragher also thinks Rodgers should sacrifice Daniel Sturridge and move Raheem Sterling up front , adopting a similar style to in the Manchester City game , which Liverpool won 2-1 earlier this month . 'The problem you have with Daniel Sturridge is , he is your best striker and you want him in your team , but he 's not quite right yet . He 's not quite 100 per cent . 'He 's not actually producing and these games are becoming vital . But you need to play him to get back to his level . Gary Neville says he would select Angel di Maria after serving his one-match suspension . Neville would drop Juan Mata for Di Maria because the Argentine 's pace could be key against Liverpool . Former United defender Neville would make Di Maria for Mata the only change to the side that beat Tottenham . 'But I go back to that Man City game and that may come into Brendan Rodgers ' thinking . That was Liverpool at their best , that high intensity and that pressing . That 's what you get from Sterling at the front that maybe you lack with Sturridge . ' Meanwhile , former United defender Neville believes Angel di Maria 's pace could prove vital against Liverpool and says he would bring the Argentine in to replace Juan Mata . ' I think nine of them are absolute certainties , rest-aside injuries that could happen in training , ' Neville said . ' I think Valencia , Smalling , Jones , Fellaini , Carrick , Herrera , Young and Rooney will all play . 'The big decision is Di Maria or Mata . I would go with Di Maria for pace . I think they will need to play on the counter attack and also match the speed of Moreno and Coutinho ( on the Liverpool left ) . ' Simon Mignolet ; Emre Can , Martin Skrtel , Mamadou Sakho ; Lazar Markovic , Jordan Henderson , Joe Allen , Alberto Moerno ; Adam Lallana , Philippe Coutinho ; Raheem Sterling . David de Gea ; Antonio Valencia , Phil Jones , Chris Smalling , Daley Blind ; Ander Herrera , Michael Carrick , Marouane Fellaini ; Angel di Maria , Ashley Young , Wayne Rooney .
Liverpool play Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday for crunch game . Two sides are separated by just two points in the race for the top four . Manchester United are fourth while Liverpool currently occupy fifth spot . Jamie Carragher says he would not start Steven Gerrard at Anfield . Carragher would also drop Daniel Sturridge and move Raheem Sterling up . Gary Neville would select Angel di Maria ahead of Juan Mata for United . READ : Man Utd WILL beat Liverpool to top four place , insists Paul McGrath . READ : Liverpool head for day of destiny against Manchester United .