Man United bounced back from their loss to Man City by winning 2-0 against Everton last weekend but they have another uphill battle on Sunday when Ten Hag’s side welcome Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four finish are dwindling but they can still avoid a disastrous season by winning the FA Cup. However, getting past this buoyant Liverpool team will be next to impossible.
Man United have won three out of their previous five outings in all competitions and overall they have lost 11 Premier League games this season out of which five have come on their own turf. The last time these two sides met, they played out a 0-0 draw in December but before that, Liverpool thumped seven goals past United in the EPL.
It’s very hard to see Man United progress to the semi-final and the only way they beat Liverpool is if they play out of their skins for the full 90 minutes and try to put on a show for the home fans without thinking too much of the outcome.
Manchester United’s team news and injuries:
Erik ten Hag will be without eight first-team players with players like Martinez, Luke Shaw, Malacia, Martial and Jonny Evans all set to miss out with various injuries.
Thankfully, Harry Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and Rasmus Hojlund have trained this week and the Man United manager has claimed that these three will be available for selection on Sunday.
“We had a good week,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “All the players you mentioned [Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and Hojlund], they returned on the pitch. Partly in the start of the week and, today, we had a session that they were all training.
“I think [they’re going to be available]. We have, tomorrow, one session. We have to see how they recover from this tomorrow. But it looks good.”
Evans’ injury means Harry Maguire should come back into the starting lineup to pair up with Varane in central defence and Hojlund will also come straight back into the side.
Mason Mount has returned to training after four months of injury lay-off but the midfielder is not going to be fit for the Liverpool game. Casemiro and young Kobbie Mainoo will hold onto their place in the middle of the pitch and the Brazilian will have to come up with a top-draw performance just to make sure that Liverpool do not run riot.
Hojlund’s return means Garnacho will move to the right wing and the Argentine will be the player to watch out for Man United because he was the star of the show against Everton last weekend.
Marcus Rashford has scored only seven times for Man United this season and he will have to pull up his socks and make sure that he gives his 100% on the pitch on Sunday.
Man United predicted line up vs Liverpool:
Predicted XI(4-2-3-1): Onana; Maguire, Varane, Dalot, Lindelof; Casemiro, Mainoo; Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho; Hojlund.
