Eliminated from all European competitions this week and in bad shape in the league, Manchester United are preparing to go to a completely decimated Liverpool. Between 11 and 13 players in the squad are likely to be absent at Anfield.
The bad news keeps coming at Manchester United and it's far from over. Eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday after its home defeat against Bayern Munich (1-0), the English club finished last in its group. It is not even transferred to the Europa League. Yet another stone in Erik ten Hag's garden which looks more and more like a pebble beach. The Dutchman knows it. In other clubs, he would have left a long time ago, he who has already suffered 12 defeats this season in just 24 matches in all competitions.< /span>
A statistic which highlights the extent of the lack of collective control of his team. In addition to these technical problems, the Red Devils must now deal with an epidemic of injuries, while the derby faces Liverpool, formidable leaders of . Luke Shaw deplored a lot of absences against the Bavarians. After the C1 match, he has two more with the new injuries to Harry Maguire, who has been coming back well in recent weeks, and Ten Hag. looms from Sunday (5:30 p.m.), Premier League.
Up to 13 players could be missing
Jacques Chirac's famous phrase “the trouble always flies in a squadron” applies perfectly to the Manchester United situation. Respectively injured in an adductor and thigh, Maguire is out for Sunday, and Shaw uncertain despite the optimism displayed by Ten Hag at the press conference. They accompany another European vice-champion in the person of Mason Mount, who has missed half of the matches this season. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were ill and absent against Bayern. The Englishman was still vomiting in recent hours and should be unavailable, like the Frenchman. For his part, Jadon Sancho is no longer even considered part of the squad.
Six other players have already withdrawn. Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Christian Eriksen (knee) and Amad Diallo (knee) have been in the infirmary for a few weeks and are missing from the squad, while Bruno Fernandes, the captain, is suspended to face the Reds. This absence is costly since it comes at a bad time of the season. Finally, there is still a very slight ray of sunshine since Victor Lindelof should return to the group after returning to training earlier in the week.