This is wonderful news for Liverpool. Seven of Manchester United’s most important players will not be available for Sunday’s encounter against Liverpool. Currently, it appears that we will be competing against their second team.
Varane became the first casualty, necessitating a substitution just before halftime, forcing Evans into action.
However, Evans’ appearance was short-lived, as he also succumbed to injury within a mere 20 minutes of his introduction.
With Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelof already sidelined for the next month, manager Erik ten Hag now faces a severely depleted pool of center-back options ahead of the impending showdown with Liverpool.
Harry Maguire and rising talent Willy Kambwala are the only fit central defenders at Ten Hag’s disposal, potentially leaving Manchester United exposed and providing Liverpool with an opportunity to exploit any defensive weaknesses at Old Trafford.
Reflecting on the setbacks at Stamford Bridge, Ten Hag openly acknowledged the detrimental impact of losing Evans and Varane, though he admitted uncertainty about their availability for Sunday’s crucial fixture.
In a post-match interview, Ten Hag lamented, “That doesn’t help in such moments if you have to manage the game, [it helps] that there are leaders on the pitch. 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.”
Addressing concerns about Varane’s fitness for the upcoming clash against Liverpool, Ten Hag admitted, “In this moment, I don’t know. I can’t help.”
Adding to Manchester United’s injury woes, Anthony Martial remains sidelined following groin surgery that kept him out since December, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also unavailable due to their respective injuries, further complicating the team’s selection dilemmas.
