The international break will surely spoil the momentum of some of the teams in the Premier League this season but two teams that cannot afford to be complacent after the end of the break are Liverpool and Manchester United.
The age-old rivalry between the two most decorated clubs in the history of English football, will face off next weekend at a new renovated Anfield as Jose Mourinho will meet Jurgen Klopp for the first time as a Manchester United manager.
Being the biggest rivalry in English football, both teams will hate to lose to each other and will send out the strongest possible squad to get the best possible result on the night.
However, neither team is really ready to set out their strongest XI as a number of injuries have hampered their chances.
Here is a short gist of all the players that are doubtful for this game:
Henrikh Mkhitaryan:
The summer signings has not been able to keep himself fit early this season and has not been able to settle into the club without regular game time. He picked up an injury in the Manchester derby a few weeks ago and though it was said that he can shrug it off even before the international break, it is now revealed that he might not play a part in the game at Anfield and risk aggravating the injury. It will be a cruel blow for Mourinho who could have done with his instincts for this game.
Luke Shaw:
After a groin injury and then flu kept Shaw out of the last few games for Manchester United, he was regarded not fit enough for a place in the national squad according to the new manager Gareth Southgate. However, Jose Mourinho is not really bothered about his fitness and reportedly rates him fit enough to start at Anfield. However, Daley Blind has been decent recently and might keep his place in the side.
Dejan Lovren:
The Croatian international saw out the full game against Swansea and looked normal on the field. However, Klopp revealed later on the night that Lovren pulled is groin and that he will have to work hard to be fit for the United game. He missed out on the games in the international break for Croatia but it is now understood that he will be fit enough for the clash against United. The two weeks of international break might be enough to put him back in action.
Nathaniel Clyne:
Another injury that occurred after the Swansea game, Nathaniel Clyne, reportedly picked up a knee injury and was subsequently not selected for England. It is an injury that he has been nursing for some time now and though it looked a bit bad at the start, it is now understood that Clyne is back in training already and ready to make in into the team against Mourinho’s side.
Adam Lallana:
Arguably the most influential player missing from this game, Adam Lallana, is no close to a recovery as he was at the weekend. The England international had a groin problem in the first half at the Liberty stadium last weekend and was subbed off. Though it initially looked like a small problem, it now looks like the 26-year old might be out of this game at Anfield. It is reported that he is undergoing intensive treatment at the club’s Melwood training base with few chances of being fit for the United clash.