Seven players could be absent for Liverpool's Manchester United game this weekend, as the Premier League returns after FIFA Days in October.
Man United head coach Ruben Amorim has seen concerns about his team's fitness ease in recent weeks, with Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot and Mason Mount all back in training and ready to play.
Mount marked his first appearance since August with a goal in a 2-0 win over Sunderland, right before the October international break. After that positive result, Amorim is aiming for a second consecutive win in the Premier League - something he has not done since taking over at Man United.
A big good news for the "Red Devils" is that they can travel to Merseyside with a squad that is almost completely equipped. Center back Lisandro Martinez is getting closer to his return from training, although he is unlikely to start immediately. The Argentine international is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in February.
Noussair Mazraoui was absent from Man United's most recent match but is likely to compete for a starting spot against Liverpool. Meanwhile, The Kop coach Arne Slot is facing significant concerns regarding some key players.
Ibrahima Konate was forced off in the loss to Chelsea and has not recovered from a thigh injury. According to British media, the French team confirmed Konate's return to Liverpool for treatment last weekend.
Ryan Gravenberch, who came on as a centre-back for Konate against Chelsea, may not be an alternative if the centre-back continues to be absent. The midfielder had to leave the field in the middle of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Netherlands' win over Finland due to fitness problems.
"Ryan Gravenberch said he has some minor hamstring problems. Of course, we will not take any risks in this case" - head coach of the Netherlands national team Ronald Koeman shared.
After the match, Gravenberch also said: "It was partly due to physical strength. The season is still long, so this is just a preventative measure. I feel fine and have the trust of the coach".
It was previously confirmed that the "Red Brigade" goalkeeper Alisson would be out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Liverpool summer signing Giovanni Leoni also suffered a serious knee injury last month.
In addition, the Anfield team is also concerned about the fitness of Wataru Endo, after the midfielder had to withdraw from the Japanese team at the last minute due to an unknown injury.
With a series of absences from Liverpool, Man United can take advantage of this opportunity to get a positive result at Anfield. For the Red Devils, a draw could be considered acceptable, but a win would help Amorim somewhat strengthen his position at Old Trafford after a run of poor results.
A surprise win at Anfield could also help Man United reduce the gap with Liverpool to 2 points in the rankings, thereby rekindling the hope of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season.
The match between Liverpool and Man United takes place at 22:30 on October 19 (Vietnam time).
