United decimated by injuries ahead of Liverpool clash
Although the Manchester Derby has become increasingly more competitive over the last decade or so, many United fans will tell you the marquee fixture of the Premier League season is the clash with Liverpool.
The two clubs have a storied rivalry and they square off at Anfield this weekend with United looking to maintain pace with City at the top of the table while Liverpool will look to close the gap on the league leaders.
Ahead of the game, United continue to be hit by injuries with no fewer than seven first-team players at risk of missing out.
Both Phil Jones and Romelu Lukaku are doubts with respective ankle injuries, while Marouane Fellaini faces a couple of weeks on the sideline with an MCL injury.
Captain Michael Carrick is also set to miss out against Liverpool while Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo all remain long-term absentees for Mourinho.
Despite their injuries, United are well priced with the most exciting betting websites to continue their fine run of form this season and beat Liverpool.
United are one of two undefeated teams in the Premier League after seven games, along with rivals City, and have kept a clean sheet in six of those games winning them all.
The two Manchester clubs have already established a five-point lead over their rivals in the title race with many fearing already that it will be a two-horse race between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola akin to those they had when they were managers of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
After Paul Pogba suffered the hamstring injury that is set to keep him out until the winter, United were struggling for midfield options until Fellaini stepped up to fill the void alongside Nemanja Matic.
The two struck up an excellent partnership and Fellaini capped off a man of the match performance last time out against Crystal Palace by bagging two goals in the 4-0 win over the Eagles.
Looking to carry that form into the international break with Belgium, Fellaini, unfortunately, sustained an MCL injury in his knee which is not considered serious but is set to see him sidelined for a couple of weeks, giving Mourinho another midfield conundrum.
With Carrick also out, Ander Herrera is expected to partner Matic at Anfield in a rare start this season for the Spaniard who has lost his place in the side with the arrival of the Serbian from Chelsea for £40m.
Herrera has the trust of Mourinho and will have a job to do in a midfield which will feature the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can who both like to break forward when Liverpool have the ball.
Liverpool sit seven points back of United in the table and can’t afford to lose more ground in the title race, making this weekend’s clash at Anfield pivotal in their respective seasons.