Man United Suffers Major Injury Setback Just Hours Before Kickoff
In a major blow to Manchester United, one of their key midfielders, Casemiro, could potentially be sidelined for Sunday’s highly anticipated FA Cup clash against Liverpool. This setback was revealed in an update from his national team, Brazil.
Originally, Casemiro was expected to join the Brazil squad for their friendlies against England and Spain later this month. However, manager Dorival Jr. disclosed a new injury for the veteran midfielder in a statement released just hours before the kickoff between Man United and Liverpool.
Dorival Jr. explained that injuries have plagued the Brazilian national team, stating, “From a pre-list made by the Brazilian national team’s technical committee with 50 names, 13 of them were already away due to injuries at their clubs.” Additionally, goalkeeper Alisson is unavailable due to a serious hamstring injury.
Unfortunately, Casemiro is now among the injured players, as confirmed by Dorival Jr. Consequently, Pepe, a native striker currently playing as a midfielder for Porto, has been called up as a replacement.
While Man United has yet to confirm the extent of Casemiro’s injury, it is highly likely that he will not be able to participate in the FA Cup quarter-final match against Liverpool. Despite his struggles for form this season, Casemiro remains a first-choice starter in midfield according to manager Erik ten Hag. He has started all 21 of his appearances in the 2023/24 season, including the last nine games. Only Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay have accumulated more minutes on the pitch among United’s midfielders.
In Casemiro’s absence, Ten Hag may opt to field Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat as his deep-lying midfielders. In the team’s recent matches against Manchester City and Everton, McTominay and Fernandes were positioned further forward in attack. If Rasmus Hojlund is also unable to start, it is likely that McTominay and Mainoo will form the midfield duo, leading to a return to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Fortunately for United, Mason Mount has returned to full training during the week. However, it is unlikely that he will be considered for a starting position.
As for the predicted Man United XI, it is expected that Onana will be in goal, with Dalot, Varane, Maguire, and Lindelof forming the defensive line. Mainoo and McTominay are likely to play in midfield, while Garnacho, Fernandes, and Rashford occupy the attacking positions. Hojlund is expected to lead the line as the lone striker.
In conclusion, Man United has been dealt a significant injury setback with Casemiro’s potential absence from the FA Cup clash against Liverpool. Despite his inconsistent form this season, his absence will undoubtedly impact the team’s midfield dynamics. Nevertheless, the team has viable options to fill the void and maintain their competitive edge against a formidable opponent.