Bruno Fernandes and five other Man United stars miss training ahead of the clash with Liverpool

Manchester United were missing several key first-team players in training today ahead of their trip to Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool welcome their fierce rivals for both sides’ first match after the October international break, with only two confirmed absentees for the Premier League champions — Alisson Becker and Giovanni Leoni (via Premier Injuries).

There had been some injury scares for Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate during the international period, but both issues are believed to be minor, and the pair are expected to be available for the weekend clash with United.

Who missed Man United training today?
According to George Flood of The Standard, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha, Casemiro, Noussair Mazraoui, and Lisandro Martinez were all absent from today’s session at Carrington.

The first four are understood to have been given extra rest after representing their national teams on Tuesday. Mazraoui has been nursing a minor injury picked up while away with Morocco, while Martinez is still recovering from an ACL problem and might not return until United’s game against Brighton later this month.

Liverpool out to bounce back
While Fernandes’ absence caught the eye, it’s believed that he, along with Amad and the Brazilian duo, could still feature at Anfield. Mazraoui and Martinez, however, remain fitness doubts.

United have avoided defeat on their last two visits to Anfield despite being far off Liverpool’s level in the league, but the Reds will be eager to end that run.

After three consecutive defeats before the international break, Liverpool are under pressure to respond. With Arsenal potentially stretching their lead at the top if they beat Fulham on Saturday, Arne Slot’s side will aim to prove that recent setbacks were only temporary — and that they remain firmly in control of their title ambitions.