The action-packed chaos in the dying embers of last night’s defeat to Chelsea has perhaps drawn some attention away from just how dire Manchester United’s injury situation is.
Erik ten Hag is set to have just two first-team centre-backs available when the Reds host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday – Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala.
Raphael Varane was withdrawn at half-time for the second successive Premier League game with what appeared to be an issue with his hip, according to TNT Sports’ commentators during the match.
He was replaced by veteran Jonny Evans after the interval. However, the 36-year-old was only able to last 21 minutes on the pitch before signalling to the bench that he also needed to be taken off, with only 19-year-old Kambwala available to deputise.
Ten Hag told reporters post-match: “That doesn’t help in such moments if you have to manage the game, [it helps] that there are leaders on the pitch.”
The two experienced centre-halves will, assumingly, join Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof on the sidelines. It was confirmed at the beginning of the week that the duo would be out of action for at least a month.
Casemiro was hooked in the closing stages
Elsewhere, Casemiro, who had endured a torrid shift when up against Chelsea’s attackers, was forced off in the 75th minute as Scott McTominay entered the fold.
Ten Hag then seemingly revealed that the Brazilian had also sustained an injury complaint, adding in his press conference: “Also Casemiro, we have to take off. That doesn’t help. They know how to deal [with pressure] and how to bring the win over the line.
“I can’t tell now what it is in prospect of Sunday, but we have to take them both off.”
When further pressed on whether Varane would be fit in time to face the Merseyside outfit, the manager stated: “In this moment, I don’t know. I can’t help.”
