Mainoo, Varane and Rashford to start in Manchester United predicted line up vs Liverpool

Mainoo, Varane and Rashford to start in Manchester United predicted line up vs Liverpool

Man United have several injury problems to contend with for the Premier League game at Anfield.

Kobbie Mainoo has been a shining light in what has been a dismal season.

Erik ten Hag will have to patch together his Manchester United squad for the Premier League showdown against fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm).

United could be without 11 players for that match – owing to injury, illness and suspension – with Bruno Fernandes among those unavailable. The captain will serve a one-game ban after picking up five yellow cards.

It means Ten Hag will have to pass the armband on to somebody else. However, given their selection woes, there are not too many takers for the top job as United aim to get one over their biggest rivals.

Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are available, though, with the former expected to start at the back, either in his traditional left-hand post or centrally, while fellow England player Rashford will compete for one of their attacking spots opposite to Antony or Alejandro Garnacho.

Filling the void left by Fernandes might be the most tricky assignment for Ten Hag before kick-off at Anfield as the Portuguese playmaker has played the entire 90 minutes for United in every Premier League game so far this season.

It could be a straight shootout between two youngsters – Kobbie Mainoo and Hannibal – in that regard.

Hannibal would offer United a robustness in their engine room, but Mainoo has oozed class from the moment that he first laced up his boots in the Premier League.

Whoever gets the nod is almost-certain to join on-loan Fiorentina Sofyan Amrabat and Scott McTominay.

The make-up of other areas depends on who emerges from the treatment room. Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are among the more longer-term absentees, while Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are both unavailable for the trip to Anfield.

IN: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford.

OUT: Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Antony.

Manchester United predicted line up vs Liverpool (4-3-3): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Dalot; Mainoo, Amrabat, McTominay; Rashford, Hojlund, Garnacho