Manchester United are facing a defensive nightmare ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Liverpool after losing both Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane to injury during their 4-3 defeat at Chelsea on Thursday evening.
Varane was withdrawn at the end of the first half and replaced by Evans, who himself was replaced 20 minutes later after picking up a knock. The Red Devils are currently without Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof in this position, both of whom are sidelined for another month, ensuring Erik ten Hag has only two fit centre-backs to call upon at present.
Harry Maguire and academy prospect Willy Kambwala represent Ten Hag’s only options in this department, offering Liverpool a real incentive to deploy an attacking game plan at Old Trafford this weekend. Speaking after Thursday’s chaotic loss at Chelsea, Ten Hag offered updates on Evans and Varane by admitting he was unsure of the severity of their respective setbacks
He said: “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.”
Pressed specifically on whether Varane will be fit for the visit of Liverpool, Ten Hag added: “In this moment, I don’t know. I can’t help.”
Anthony Martial has not featured since December and is still recovering from groin surgery, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also sidelined.
The best LFC news, features, videos and podcasts
Nobody covers Liverpool Football Club in more detail than the ECHO. Our team of reporters follows the Reds home, away and abroad and we have seven days a week coverage of everything from the first team, to the women’s team and the Academy.
