Manchester United’s preparations for their trip to Anfield have hit a bump — six first-team players were missing from training just days before facing Liverpool.
With Arne Slot’s side looking to bounce back from three straight defeats, Sunday’s clash promises to be a tense affair. But over at Carrington, Ruben Amorim has fitness concerns that could test United’s depth at the worst possible time.
The Red Devils haven’t won at Anfield since 2016, and Amorim’s men will need every ounce of quality to change that record. However, Sky Sports’ Danyal Khan revealed that Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martínez were absent from Thursday’s session.
“Just to leave you with one more fitness update, we have not seen Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez especially – a lot of reports around his fitness,” Khan said.
“He’s not quite ready to return to team training yet after being ruled out in February with an ACL injury. United are really taking care with his recovery.”
The pair are key figures in United’s leadership group, and their absence will be a major talking point heading into the weekend.
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Fitness fears or mind games by Man United?
Adding to the uncertainty, reports from Standard Sport claim Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha, and Casemiro also missed the training session.
However, the quartet were reportedly granted extra rest following their international duties — especially the Brazilian pair, who returned late from friendlies in the Far East.
In their place, Amorim called up several academy prospects, including Shea Lacey and Chido Obi, to maintain training intensity. While it’s not unusual before big games, the timing of these absences has raised eyebrows.
United did claim a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break, with Mason Mount and Benjamin Šeško on target.
But Amorim knows Anfield is a different test entirely — one that could define his debut season in English football.
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Manchester United under Ruben Amorim so far
| Manager | Appointed | Matches | Points per Match | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruben Amorim | November 11, 2024 | 50 | 1.38 | May be his last season at Old Trafford |