Four Reds back in contention; De Gea and Pogba ruled out - Man United vs Liverpool

LFC Globe
17th October 2019
Alisson

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be boosted by the return of some of his key players ahead of the Reds' visit of on Sunday.

The Reds return to action following a two-week break that gave some of the Reds' injured stars added rest ahead of an upcoming busy spell in the season.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been sidelined since the first Premier League fixture of the season against Norwich at , however, he is back in contention for the trip to after returning to full-team training on Tuesday.

also took part in training at Melwood, despite initial suggestions that the Egyptian would struggle to shrug off a knock sustained against Leicester ahead of the international break.

In addition to the duo, Klopp also welcomed back Joel Matip, who has missed the last two games due to injury, with and filling in for the Cameroonian. is also in contention after missing the over ' side.

Joel Matip

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to take up a starting role against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, with Klopp likely to stick to a midfield three of , and , as he has done regularly this term.

Liverpool's front-three of Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane is set in stone, with only questions left about the Reds backline, with Alisson and Matip both vying to come back into the starting eleven.

Adrian has performed admirably in place of Alisson so far this season. However, the Brazilian is a key component of Liverpool's defence stability and it is hard to imagine Klopp leaving him on the substitutes bench, if he is fully fit.

Matip is equally likely to come straight back into the side, with neither Gomez nor Lovren hugely convincing during the Reds' wins over Salzburg and Leicester.

United boss Solskjaer described this weekend's clash as the "perfect game" despite his side's poor form at the start of the current campaign as he hopes his side respond against their old rivals.

De Gea

Image: Getty Images

Meanwhile, the side have won just once in their last five Premier League games, having lost 1-0 to Newcastle in their last outing. They sit in 12th position in the league table, with little sign of optimism amongst supporters.

They are set to welcome back several of their starters after the international break, with Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof all hoping to be back in contention for the visit of the Reds.

However, they will be without goalkeeper David de Gea, who suffered an innocuous knock during Spain's Euro 2020 qualifier in Sweden on Tuesday night.

"David needs a scan," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "I think he'll be out. It certainly looked like it anyway judging on last night so it's just one of those things.

Paul Pogba will be another huge absentee for United after being confirmed sidelined with an ongoing ankle injury.

Both managers will provide a full injury update in their respective press conferences later this week.

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