With all the injuries in the Manchester United squad it could be hard for Jose Mourinho to pick his team to face Liverpool.
Up to nine first team players could miss the game through injury and Mourinho could not give confirmation on who would be available, although, he did admit to being ‘hopeful’ of some players being available.
“All of them didn’t train yesterday again and today they will be a little, I don’t want to say test, but a little introduction to training to see the answer, adaptation and to see if we can increase a little bit tomorrow to have them for Sunday,” Mourinho said on Friday. “But for sure, I hope, is better not to say for sure, I hope some will be available but for sure some will not be.”
Alexis Sanchez and Victor Lindelof are both out with long term injuries. And then are doubts over Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay, Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo.
So much of this team is based on who is passed fit at the last minute but there are some players Mourinho needs to take a risk on even if they’re not 100%. At the back Chris Smalling needs to come back in alongside Phil Jones who should retain his place despite that calamitous own goal.
Luke Shaw is another one who needs to play through the pain barrier to allow Ashley Young to start at right back ahead of Dalot who shouldn’t be risked if he’s injured and his lack of Premier League experience.
In midfield there’s no way Nemanja Matic won’t start so the discussion is who to pair with him. Ander Herrera goes straight in but the biggest question is over Paul Pogba. Based on recent performances he shouldn’t be given a place in the starting XI and Juan Mata is a good link up option from United’s defensive midfield duo and their attacking front line.
Up front there’s no room for Lukaku if Martial is passed fit.
Provided the right players are fit, the emphasis has to be on the ‘lighter’ players up front, as Mourinho put it recently. Mata has influenced this fixture in United’s last two wins as a starter and a substitute and has shown a good understanding with Jesse Lingard on the right-hand side before. They may have to switch whenever United do not have the ball to counter the adventurous Andy Robertson.
Bailly gets the nod over Jones because you cannot countenance a player who has assisted an opponent’s goal and scored an own goal. If Jones starts and excels, then he will have shut a lot of people up. Smalling and Shaw have to be certainties if they are fit enough, ditto Martial.
