Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has won an appeal over his red card against Liverpool meaning he can face Manchester United on 5 April.

The American was sent off after 63 minutes of Sunday's 5-0 drubbing at Anfield when he was judged to have brought down Fernando Torres after the striker burst through on goal. Friedel argued he went for a 50-50 ball and had nowhere else to go after the Spaniard got their first.

The Football Association today backed his appeal clearing him to play in Villa's next Premier League game, which is at Old Trafford.

The news is a boost for Martin O'Neill's men, whose bid to finish in a Champions League place has been damaged by a winless March.

Sunderland full-back George McCartney has also had his red card rescinded. McCartney was judged to have pulled back Shaun WrightPhillips when the Manchester City winger raced clear during Sunday's match at Eastlands.

They are now three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal but Villa's manager said: "We still have a target. The Champions League is still reachable, and Arsenal have some extremely difficult games left to play."