The return of club action is finally upon us following yet another untimely international break.
For Manchester United, they entered the fortnight on the back of a much-needed win over Sunderland at Old Trafford.
First-half goals from Mason Mount (8’) and Benjamin Sesko (31’) gifted United a healthy advantage to protect after the interval and, despite the Black Cats’ best efforts to get back into the game, the three points stayed in M16.
Most managers would’ve perhaps preferred to build on such a crucial victory as swiftly as possible by getting back into the action the following weekend. However, United will have had to wait 15 days by the time they’re lining up in the tunnel on Sunday afternoon, ready to lock horns with arch-rivals Liverpool.
How LFC fare ahead of hosting United
The reigning Premier League champions, on the other hand, will have welcomed the international break to receive some much-needed respite after suffering three consecutive losses in all competitions.
Liverpool were initially defeated 2-1 in the dying embers of their away league clash with Crystal Palace on September 27, before they slumped to a 1-0 loss in Istanbul when facing Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Then, in their final outing before club action hit pause, they were again dealt a late blow when Estevao secured Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the fifth minute of injury time.
Alas, the form from both United and Liverpool in the build-up to Sunday’s contest makes it even more difficult to call than usual.
You could argue that the Red Devils have a golden opportunity to claim their first win at Anfield in nine years or, alternatively, that Arne Slot’s men will take their opportunity to regain form against their fiercest rivals with both hands by seeing out a comfortable win. Whichever way you do sway, be sure to use Premier Bet Malawi for the best odds.
Liverpool team news and injury list
In regards to the managers’ team news, Slot is navigating a potentially lengthy absentee list.
Alisson Becker has already been ruled out of the encounter after sustaining a hamstring injury that also forced him to miss out on international duty with Brazil, while Wataru Endo was also unavailable for Japan’s friendlies.
Ibrahima Konate was withdrawn in the second half of the Chelsea loss, with Slot revealing post-match: “I don’t know if it is a big injury, but what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit.
“Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good.”
The centre-half did join up with his France teammates two weeks ago, although he only took part in light training sessions and was an unused substitute during their win over Azerbaijan. After the game, he was released from camp and travelled home to England, where he has presumably undergone further assessments on his condition.
Two of Slot’s most trusted lieutenants, Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk, were among the goals in the Netherlands’ 4-0 win vs Finland on Sunday evening – but that won’t be what the LFC boss was focusing on when checking how his men fared in their World Cup qualifier.
Ryan Gravenberch was named in Ronald Koeman’s starting XI at the Johan Cruyff Arena, but only lasted 45 minutes before being hooked at the interval.
The in-form midfielder reportedly felt some pain in his hamstring, prompting Koeman to withdraw Gravenberch from the fray to avoid him suffering any further damage.
United team news
As for Amorim, he will be without Lisandro Martinez, who has been out of action with an anterior cruciate ligament tear since February.
It’s anticipated that the World Cup-winning defender will begin first-team training soon, with hopes he can make his long-awaited comeback to first-team football after the November international break.
Fans are expecting updates on highly-rated full-back Noussair Mazraoui, as Amorim originally stated the Moroccan would be back after the October break. The boss will presumably give some clarification during his pre-match press conference.
Youngster Ayden Heaven suffered a setback while in action for England’s U20S on Friday, although it’s unlikely he’d have featured in Sunday’s fixture, given he’s made only one three-minute cameo in the Premier League so far this term, doing so in the closing stages of the draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
