Man United set for double injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash | OneFootball

Manchester United Duo Absent from Training Ahead of Liverpool Clash

Manchester United’s preparations for their Premier League showdown with Liverpool have been disrupted by the absence of key players at Carrington, raising fitness concerns before Ruben Amorim’s side head to Anfield.

Injury Report Raises Concerns for Amorim

Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez were both missing from Thursday’s training session as United continued to fine-tune their tactics ahead of the visit to Merseyside. Mazraoui, who last featured in the 2-1 win over Chelsea on September 20, has been recovering from an unspecified injury. Amorim had previously stated that the Moroccan would not return before the international break, though there had been hope of his involvement against Liverpool after recent medical assessments.

Reports earlier this week suggested that the 27-year-old could be available, having undergone evaluations either side of joining the Morocco squad. However, Sky Sports confirmed that Mazraoui was not part of the group that trained at Carrington. The session featured several academy prospects, including Jacob Devaney, Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Sam Mather, Bendito Mantato, Reece Munro, Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites, highlighting the growing injury list that Amorim must navigate.

Martinez, meanwhile, remains sidelined as he continues his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered against Crystal Palace back in February. The Argentine defender is steadily progressing, with suggestions that he could resume full training next week and return to competitive action either against Brighton on October 25 or Nottingham Forest on November 1.

Fernandes and Senior Stars Given Extended Rest

United captain Bruno Fernandes was also absent from training on Thursday, although his omission was not injury-related. He was granted a day off following international duty with Portugal, where he played just over an hour in a 2-2 draw against Hungary. The match saw Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record as the top scorer in World Cup qualification history, while Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai netted a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Fernandes is expected to be fit and available for selection at Anfield, but Amorim will be wary of the fatigue accumulated by several of his international players. Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha and Casemiro were all afforded additional recovery time following their exertions abroad.

Amad produced a standout display for Ivory Coast, scoring a sublime free-kick in their 3-0 victory over Kenya which sealed qualification for next summer’s World Cup finals. Casemiro, who captained Brazil in a 3-2 defeat to Japan, played the full 90 minutes, while Cunha appeared as a substitute in the same match.

Photo: IMAGO

Youth Players Step Up Amid Injury Woes

With senior players either sidelined or recuperating, Amorim has turned to United’s youth ranks to maintain balance in training. Defender Ayden Heaven’s injury while representing England Under-20s last week added to United’s growing list of absentees. Heaven was substituted at half-time after picking up a knock against Switzerland at St George’s Park.

The presence of multiple academy players in first-team training underlines the challenge facing Amorim as he manages both fitness and squad depth heading into one of United’s most critical fixtures of the season. The Portuguese coach has prioritised developing young talent during his short tenure, and this period of enforced rotation could provide valuable opportunities for several emerging prospects.

Slot’s Liverpool Also Battling Fitness Issues

Arne Slot’s Liverpool have their own concerns heading into the fixture. The defending champions, who endured three straight defeats before the international break, will be eager to respond at home. Ibrahima Konate’s fitness remains uncertain, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker continues to recover from injury.

Midfield duo Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have also dealt with minor knocks in recent days, adding to Slot’s selection dilemmas. Despite these setbacks, Liverpool will expect to produce a strong reaction at Anfield, where they have been formidable under their Dutch manager since his arrival last year.

Amorim is set to address the media on Friday, when he will provide a full update on United’s squad status and clarify whether Mazraoui or any of the returning internationals will be available.

As things stand, United face the prospect of entering one of their toughest fixtures of the campaign without key defensive and midfield options. Amorim will hope that his side can harness the resilience shown in their 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break, as they aim to disrupt Liverpool’s pursuit of another Premier League title.