Manchester United head into their mammoth clash with Liverpool in the midst of an injury crisis.
The Red Devils travel to Anfield on Wednesday evening looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League, all while halting Jurgen Klopp and co's assault on the title and avenging a 5-0 thrashing at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture. But interim manager Ralf Rangnick will be without at least five first-term stars for the grudge match due to injury, further limiting his resources ahead of a crunch period.
Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Fred, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani have all been ruled out by Rangnick and Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be absent after suffering the tragic loss of one of his newborn twins with partner Georgina Rodriguez. Ronaldo was the hat-trick hero last time out, as United defeated Norwich City 3-2 on Saturday to move within three points and one place of the top four.
Asked for an update from the treatment room in his pre-match news conference, Rangnick revealed: "Rapha [Varane] didn't train with the team. He was on the pitch with one of our rehab coaches. But with regard to injured players, we have the same situation that we had in the last two games."
In a boost for the 63-year-old, Bruno Fernandes will be available after being involved in a car crash on his way to the club's Carrington training centre on Monday morning. "As far as I know, nobody was injured," Rangnick explained. "He trained with the team and he was okay, and that's why I think he will also be ok for tomorrow."
The victory over Norwich puts the Red Devils back in contention for a Champions League finish, with three huge games on the horizon. On Saturday, United make the trip to Arsenal, followed by a home clash with Chelsea next Thursday.
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The Chelsea fixture has been swiftly rearranged due to the Blues' involvement in the FA Cup final, a decision which took Rangnick by surprise. "The fact that the Chelsea game was changed from the original fixture is something I didn't think could happen," the ex- RB Leipzig boss told manutd.com.
"Normally in Germany, the last two games of the season have to be played on the very same day and with the same kick-off time. Obviously it's different here. For us it's not good because we have a number of injured players so it would have been better for the Chelsea game to be played two weeks later when it was originally planned.
"But anyway we have to deal with it and hopefully by then we have two or three of those injured players available again. We have to take it game by game. We know the importance of the Liverpool game, not only for us to stay in the race for [position] number four, but also for the fans, knowing that the team lost the first fixture this season 5-0 at Old Trafford."
Man Utd likely lineup vs Liverpool: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Pogba, Matic; Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
