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Manchester United are suffering from headaches ahead of their next game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon and they are not just of a varied kind. The match against Liverpool couldn’t come at a worse time for Erik ten Hag and his players, unless they get a remarkable win.
The defeat to Bayern Munich was difficult to assimilate. Progress in Europe had ended before this last chance, but the elimination from Group A was accompanied by groans and little fighting. They will want to fight and much more against Liverpool. .
Of course, there are mitigating cases for what has been a dismal season at Old Trafford and beyond. They have been hit harder than the maximum in terms of injuries, even that doesn’t bring them any comfort after a 12th defeat in all competitions this campaign.
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United will have to do everything they can to prevent them from reaching 13th place at a stadium where they impressed last season. However, as variety issues continue to pile up, United have a question mark when it comes to the captain. .
Bruno Fernandes and his role as United captain have been under the microscope, however, his presence (armband or not) is something Ten Hag will deeply miss at Anfield as the focal point of his team. Normally, replacing him with a party wouldn’t matter much.
But injuries mean the viable characteristics to take United out are limited. Casemiro is among the 10 doubts about his fitness for the match, with a prediction yet to be made on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, both doubtful for the Merseyside clash after limping off against Bayern. .
Despite ongoing selection concerns when it comes to other first-team regulars, Fernandes has only been omitted from the starting XI in two matches this term and none at all in the main competitions. The playmaker has been on the pitch for the full 90 minutes in every Premier League and Champions League fixture.
In the two Carabao Cup ties he started on the substitutes bench, against Crystal Palace and Newcastle, Raphael Varane and Casemiro respectively were handed the armband. Maguire started both games.
Even when Casemiro was substituted at half-time in an alarming defeat to the Magpies last month, the baton passed to Victor Lindelof, Sweden’s captain. Varane appears to be at the forefront, but his long career at United is dubious given his lack of opportunities in recent weeks.
He wad recalled to the side against Bayern in his first start in 11 games and produced a typically-composed showing. However, the ex-Real Madrid centre-back is also thought to be among the five players United are now open to selling when the transfer market reopens in January.
Beyond the World Cup winner, the roles chosen to upgrade the captain would possibly include Jonny Evans, Scott McTominay or even Marcus Rashford, provided he plays. If it is Varane, we cannot read anything into it. If the French is forgotten, that will be Tell us everything.