Liverpool travel to Old Trafford this evening to face Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed three absentees for the match.
On Maguire, Solsjkajer told MUTV: “He’s obviously had the scans and the good news is there is no fracture. [There’s] Ligament damage but hopefully we will see him again this season. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the [Europa League] final.”
On Martial and James, the Man Utd manager said: “Anthony’s looking good. He has just about started outside jogging, which is the first step on the rehab of course.
“Dan James is not available. He’s still out for a little while.”
The game between Liverpool and Manchester United promises to be a great one as the away side targets a top-four finish and the home side looks to cause an upset for their biggest rivals.
Winning at Old Trafford is imperative for Liverpool if they’re going to stand any chance of finishing the season in the Premier League top four.
Defeat this evening will put a nail in their coffin as far as Champions League qualification is concerned.
Mohamed Salah will need to get his name on the scoresheet if Liverpool are to stand a chance of winning, with their last two wins coming in games the Egpytian scored.
It’s a worrying statistic especially given Manchester United’s knack for keeping Salah quiet at Old Trafford. If he can overcome the odds, Klopp’s side will be boosted in the race for European football.
Manchester United are dealing with their problem position after 12 years.
There is no image more iconic in English football than Manchester United’s number seven hugging the touchline at Old Trafford.
George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the greats to have carried that responsibility – while Eric Cantona also donned THE famous shirt, albeit as a centre-forward.
In the modern game, that symbolic trip down memory lane has been negated by outlandish squad numbers.
Indeed, the two widemen who were deployed against Leicester City last night, Amad and Anthony Elanga, wore 19 and 56 respectively, while Shola Shoretire this season made a United debut with 74 printed on his back.
Purists might argue ‘the game is gone’ in that sense, but that is a stand-point best placed to one side for now.
As attentions turn to the summer transfer window, Jadon Sancho could return to Manchester – only this time on the red side of the city – amid the MEN’s understanding that the England international is pushing for a move away from Borussia Dortmund.
While other elite European clubs queue up for teammate Erling Haaland, United might just have a clear run.
Sporting calendars across the board are, quite often, shaped by four-year cycles. In the case of United, two of them could be primed for a fitting finale this summer.
Indeed, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sets his sights on a first piece of silverware, his side have already booked flights to Gdansk ahead of the Europa League final against Villarreal.
If successful, it would mark their first trophy since they won the same competition in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
By way of coincidence, that was directly before United first registered an interest in Sancho, who instead opted to leave Manchester City to continue his development in the Bundesliga with Dortmund.
It’s less than 24 hours since United officially surrendered the title to their previously ‘noisy’ neighbours.
However, by ending the two aforementioned cycles, they can ultimately bridge the gap as they continue to target a first Premier League crown post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Just as many have tried and failed in that respect – namely David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho – United will be confident of ending their simultaneous hoodoo on the right flank.
Edinson Cavani’s u-turn has bought key figures responsible for transfers time when it comes to their pursuit to sign a world class striker; enabling a rework of the club’s window plans.
According to MEN Sancho is pushing for a move. Dortmund, too, could be willing to play ball – reducing their nine-figure asking price from last summer.
In the 12 years post-Ronaldo, who replaced former England captain Beckham, several players have been summoned to fill United’s number seven void – even if that was not necessarily the shirt that was assigned to them.
Wilfried Zaha was purchased and lasted two seasons before a permanent return to Crystal Palace.
Adnan Januzaj failed to live up to the hype. Angel di Maria failed to live up to the price tag.
Memphis Depay was occasionally used in that position but, while he is a much more accomplished player now, fans didn’t get to see the very best of him in the famous red shirt.
Those three alone cost United well in excess of €100million.
Of course, signing Sancho does not come with a guaranteed return, but 48 goals and 62 assists across 134 matches all-told for Dortmund suggests United, if successful in their pursuit, have a serious player on their hands.
Mason Greenwood, Amad and Dan James are there to provide back-up, while the former will also be out to stake his claim in attacking quarters as an alternative for Cavani.
It’s taken more than a decade and a staggering amount of millions, but United are now seemingly on the right track when it comes to suitably occupying THE most iconic role at Old Trafford.