15:00 ET Canada-USA
Referee
Michael Oliver (England)
Venue
Old Trafford
The clash of the two most successful clubs in the history of football in England comes early this season. Today, 20-time English and three-time European champions Manchester United are set to play host to 19-time English and six-time European champions, Liverpool, at Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Casemiro’s transfer has come too late for him to be involved in this clash, so he is expected to observe it from the stands at Old Trafford. Martial has returned to team training after a thigh injury, but it remains to be seen if he regains full fitness in time to lead the line against Liverpool. Most likely it’ll still be Ronaldo, despite the cloud over his future, flanked by Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.
It will be interesting to see the back line Ten Hag goes with. Martinez started alongside captain Harry Maguire against Brentford, as did Shaw on the left, but both were taken off at halftime with Raphael Varane and Malacia taking their places.
Fred is set to anchor the midfield, and logic says it should be Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in there as well, but that trio didn’t work to well last week either, so Ten Hag may decide to make changes there as well. Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek will surely be hoping for it.
Liverpool
Apart from the red card-induced suspension of Nunez, Klopp has to make due without midfielders Thiago Alcantara (hamstring), Curtis Jones (calf) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), defenders Joel Matip (groin) and Ibrahima Konate (knee), forward Diogo Jota (hamstring) and backup goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher (groin).
The good news for the German coach is that forward Roberto Firmino has recovered completely from his own injury issue, as has midfielder Naby Keita from a bout of illness.
Firmino will have to come straight back into the lineup in the absence of Nunez and Jota, likely flanked by Salah and Diaz. There is no real question about the back five, with Alisson Becker sure to start between the posts, Virgil van Dijk partnered by Joe Gomez in the heart of defence, and the pair of Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold on the flanks.
In midfield, however, there is some choice to made despite three players from the section missing. Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, James Milner and Naby Keita are all vying for the three spots.
