Sir Alex Ferguson does not care whether or not Carlos Tevez faces Manchester United on Sunday but is relieved Emmanuel Adebayor won't be playing.

Tevez rejected a new contract at United in the summer to join Manchester City, who gloated about the transfer by putting up a Welcome to Manchester' billboard in the city.

The striker must overcome a knee injury to line-up at Old Trafford but Adebayor, who has scored four goals this season, is definitely out as he starts a three‑match ban for stamping on Robin van Persie.

United boss Ferguson said: “I am not bothered whether Tevez plays against us — Manchester City's best player won't be playing. Adebayor is their star man, there is no question about that. He has scored in every game so far.”

Ferguson is still riled by the Tevez billboard and said: “That was arrogance. They shouldn't have done that. Other than that, what else they are doing doesn't worry me. What you have to concern yourself with, for now, is who is going to win the League?”

Adebayor and Tevez were part of a £120million summer spending spree but Ferguson insisted Liverpool will always be United's biggest local rivals.

He said: “Sunday will be a real feisty game but Liverpool, to me, will always be the derby game. It's because of the history. When I came down here they were the kingpins of England.”