Sky Sports are satisfied that camera will not come into play during top-

The web of Premier League coverage will expand this weekend as Spidercam is introduced to an English top-flight match for the first time at Manchester United's clash with Liverpool.

Sportsmail can reveal that Sky Sports will introduce the birds-eye view technology for the Old Trafford showdown, with the Premier League following the lead set by the Champions League and World Cup.

It will see a camera suspended above the pitch via four wires attached to each corner of the ground and manoeuvred by an operator to follow the action, fluctuating between 10 and 40 metres above the pitch.

Spidercam will make Premier League debut at Manchester United's clash with Liverpool

Two operators at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa steer the spider camera from pitchside

The Spidercam gets the perfect shot of the New Zealand rugby team after their World Cup win

Anthony Martial scored a stunning goal in United's win over Liverpool at Old Trafford last year

WHAT IS A SPIDERCAM? The Spidercam was invented in the United States back in 1984. The device enables film and television cameras to move in a range of different movements in order to obtain the best angles for video and pictures. Four wires will be attached across a stadium or specific area for a camera to hover over. Spidercams have been used in major cricket and football events such as the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and UEFA Champions League. In cricket, if the ball hits the camera then it's a dead ball and any runs or wickets taken are wiped out. Advertisement

The structure at Old Trafford was given council approval on Monday and the footage is set to become a key component of the Sky coverage with the broadcaster rolling out its full stable of leading names — Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, Graeme Souness, Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp — for the Sunday clash.

Sky Sports head of football Gary Hughes told Sportsmail on Wednesday: 'A game as big as Manchester United against Liverpool feels like the right time to use it for the first time in a Premier League fixture. It is one of the biggest games in world football and the intention is to get the viewer closer to the game, which is what this technology enables.

'It will mostly come into its own at set-pieces, like free-kicks, corners or penalties, when it can go directly above the action and give you the fullest view looking down directly on what is happening. I think it will become a big tool in analysis — Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry will be using it on Monday Night Football.'

The technology has been used in cricket, though there have been occasional mishaps, including a shot from India's Virat Kohli that hit the camera in an ODI against Australia last year.

Sky are satisfied the camera will not affect play during a Premier League match as the structure will retreat to the height of the stadium for goal-kicks and when the keeper is in possession.

The Spidercam was on hand to get the best footage for Germany's World Cup final win

Mario Gomez slots the ball home to win the 2014 World Cup for Germany against Argentina

Spidercam has also been used in cricket - if the ball hits the device then play is dead

Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp (L) and Jamie Carragher (R) will be on Sky Sports punditry duties