Liverpool given an early advantage as Manchester United pair miss training

Liverpool could come up against a weakened Manchester United side this weekend, with reports indicating that two of Ruben Amorim’s key men missed training ahead of the trip to Anfield.

As per EPL Index, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez were both absent from United’s most recent session at Carrington, casting serious doubt on their availability.

Mazraoui has been out since United’s 2-1 win over Chelsea last month and was initially tipped to return after the international break. However, Sky Sports have confirmed that the Moroccan defender is still not training with the squad, while Martinez continues his recovery from an ACL injury suffered in February.

It’s another blow for Amorim, who could be forced to call upon several academy players to fill the gaps. The latest session reportedly included multiple youth talents, underlining the pressure on United’s already stretched squad.

Bruno Fernandes was also missing, though his absence was due to rest after featuring in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with Hungary — a match in which Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late equaliser, once again showing his growing influence on the big stage.

On the Liverpool side, Arne Slot still has fitness concerns of his own to manage. Alisson Becker remains out with the injury sustained against Galatasaray, while Ibrahima Konaté is being monitored after pulling out of France duty with a quad issue. Ryan Gravenberch is also a doubt, with James Pearce reporting he will be assessed for a possible hamstring problem following his early withdrawal for the Netherlands last weekend.

Even with those setbacks, Liverpool are expected to have the depth to cope. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak could be handed chances to impress and make their mark.

With United potentially missing several defensive stalwarts, Slot’s side will see this as a prime opportunity to seize control and build momentum heading into a demanding stretch of fixtures.