Manchester United and Liverpool are likely to be without key players in Saturday’s much anticipated Premier League match at Anfield.
Paul Pogba has been missing since the influential Frenchman was withdrawn in the first half of the 3-0 UEFA Champions League victory over FC Basel on 12 September, when Jose Mourinho later confirmed his absence would be “long term”
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Club captain Michael Carrick has missed the last two games through injury and Marouane Fellaini is also expected to be sidelined, after Belgium boss Roberto Martinez stated the midfielder sustained knee ligament damage in their 4-3 win over Bosnia last Saturday.
Mourinho has confirmed it is unlikely Fellaini will face Liverpool and Ander Herrera is one contender to feature alongside Nemanja Matic, although the boss has faith in his entire squad.
“From what I read, I don't think Fellaini can play the match,” Mourinho said this week. “Another one plays and it's no problem for me. Not just Ander. We trust every player. We lost players last season and we lost players this season.
“With our way of thinking and feeling, it really is no problem. One player not playing means another one plays. It's an opportunity for another one and we trust them. We never hide behind this or that player, or this or that injury. We trust the ones that are going to play.”
“From what I read, I don't think Fellaini can play the match. Another one plays and it's no problem for me. Not just Ander. We trust every player."
Romelu Lukaku missed Belgium’s win over Bosnia with an ankle injury but scored as a substitute on his return to action in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Cyprus in the final World Cup qualifier for Russia 2018.
It remains to be seen if centre-back Phil Jones will take his place in the Reds defence on Saturday, after he withdrew from the England squad with an injury.
In total, 14 United players left the club to represent their countries in World Cup qualifiers and goalkeeper Sergio Romero was the last to take to the pitch as 2014 runners-up Argentina sealed a place in Russia with a 3-1 win over Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Mourinho could provide further updates on how his squad is shaping up during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
Of course, it is worth stating that Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be absent once again as they continue their recoveries from serious knee injuries.
WHAT ABOUT LIVERPOOL?
Liverpool will be without top scorer Sadio Mane, who is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty. The important forward was substituted late on in Senegal's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Cape Verde Islands last weekend.
Jurgen Klopp's side also look set to be without defenders Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren with back problems, while influential midfielder Adam Lallana has reportedly visited a specialist in Qatar to step up his rehabilitation from a thigh injury he suffered in pre-season.
Brazil duo Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have completed a long journey back to Merseyside after featuring in their country's 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Chile on Wednesday morning.