Taking a glance at the current state of the Manchester United squad as they prepare for the highly anticipated FA Cup quarter-final showdown against Liverpool at the iconic Old Trafford stadium, it’s evident that the team has received a significant boost in terms of player availability.
Manager Erik ten Hag revealed during his press briefing on Friday that key players Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are fit and ready to feature in the crucial match against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, who are vigorously chasing multiple titles.
The return of top scorer Hojlund is particularly uplifting for the manager, given his impressive goal-scoring record before being sidelined with a muscle injury. With Maguire and Wan-Bissaka also back in contention, Ten Hag’s defensive options are bolstered, although he still faces the absence of four first-choice defenders.
On the midfield front, there’s positive news with reports indicating that Mason Mount is poised to make a comeback to the squad after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a calf injury.
Mount’s return is significant considering his high-profile transfer to Manchester United from Chelsea and the expectations surrounding his performance.
Despite the availability of key players like Mount, Hojlund, Maguire, and Wan-Bissaka, Manchester United is still grappling with the absence of seven other players, including defensive stalwarts like Luke Shaw and Jonny Evans, as well as promising talent Omari Forson and striker Anthony Martial.
The absence of these players underscores the depth of the injury woes faced by the team.
However, Manchester United’s injury concerns, while notable, appear comparatively less severe than those of their opponents, Liverpool. Klopp’s squad is grappling with the potential absence of as many as 10 players for the upcoming match, with doubts looming over the fitness of key defender Ibrahima Konate.
Klopp acknowledged the challenging situation during his pre-match comments, expressing uncertainty about Konate’s availability and acknowledging the tight timeline for his recovery. Despite the challenges, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling encounter, with injury concerns adding an extra layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated clash.