Manchester United face Liverpool in the Premier League today as they look to bounce back from their late collapse against Chelsea on Thursday night.
A late Cole Palmer double condemned United to defeat at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening. It’s now one win in five Premier League games for United, with qualification for next season’s Champions League looking more and more unlikely.
Erik ten Hag will hope a win against fierce rivals Liverpool can spark a late charge for a Champions League spot. United beat Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup quarter-final three weeks ago and another victory over the Merseysiders would be the perfect tonic after a chastening night in West London
Regarding the team news, Ten Hag was unsure whether Raphael Varane would be available after his substitution against Chelsea, a game in which Casemiro and Jonny Evans were also replaced.
Evans was substituted on for Varane at half-time and was unusually brought off not long into the second half. He went straight down the tunnel and is a major doubt, so it looks highly likely that Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala will start together in central defence.
XI | Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Kambwala, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.
Jarell Quansah starts for Liverpool against Manchester United.
Quansah has been selected ahead of Ibrahima Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence.
Liverpool welcome back Wataru Endo, who missed Thursday’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United due to a minor injury but is fit to return at Old Trafford.
Endo’s availability is a major boost for Liverpool, who remain without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson and Diogo Jota.
Mohamed Salah was taken off after an hour against Sheffield United but Klopp confirmed after the game that move was to give the Egyptian a rest.
Salah has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances against Manchester United for Liverpool, including eight in his last five at Old Trafford in all competitions.
Alexis Mac Allister, who scored a sublime goal in the win over Sheffield United in midweek, will be looking to continue his brilliant form in midfield alongside Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
“Nobody got injured already as far as I know today,” said Klopp on Friday. “So recovery started already and now we recover and go again.”
Andy Roberton starts at left-back to boost Liverpool in defence, as they bid to move back above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners moved a point above Liverpool with their 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday.
Confirmed Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
