Manchester United head to Anfield this weekend in their first real test of the season. Manchester City, who are level on points with United, have already faced Liverpool and Chelsea, while United haven’t played anyone from the expected top four.
Facing Liverpool could offer the first real indicator as to whether Jose Mourinho’s team can be genuine title contenders this season.
The former Chelsea manager has a better record against Liverpool than any other team, but in his first trip to Anfield as United boss, his side left with a 0-0 draw that saw them manage the lowest possession they’ve had in any match since Opta records began.
Marouane Fellaini has been Mourinho’s guy this season. It’s not the fact that he has scored four goals thus far, but it is his general performances. He’s moving the ball on well, making important interceptions and actually starting to look like a half-decent player.
Yet the Belgian will be missing from the Anfield clash after picking up an injury on international duty. Belgium qualified for next summer’s World Cup back in September, yet Roberto Martinez still opted to play Fellaini in their recent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The midfielder was substituted with less than half an hour played, thanks to a knee injury.
The Belgian coach confirmed that Romelu Lukaku wasn’t fully fit and wouldn’t be pushed “too hard,” yet ahead of Tuesday’s fixture against Cyprus, he insisted the striker had recovered from his ankle problem and was “100 percent fit.”
On the day it was confirmed that Sadio Mane has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, United fans could breathe a sigh of relief when Lukaku was left out of the starting lineup.
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