Key Takeaways:
- Lisandro Martínez is ruled out of Manchester United’s Premier League derby against Liverpool this weekend
- Noussair Mazraoui remains doubtful for Sunday’s fixture at Anfield, with his availability yet to be confirmed
- Seven United players have been granted extended rest following international duty, with some potentially starting on the bench at Liverpool
Squad Fitness Update Ahead of Anfield Derby
Manchester United will be without Lisandro Martínez for their upcoming Premier League showdown against Liverpool, with manager Rúben Amorim confirming the defender’s continued absence due to a serious knee injury sustained during February’s defeat to Crystal Palace. Although Martínez nears a return to fitness, he has not yet resumed full training with the squad, and his reintegration will be phased once he is ready for competitive action.
🚨🚨🎙️| Ruben Amorim: “Licha [Martinez] is near and almost returning to training with the team. Mazraoui, I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/Wg7De3dbFf
— centredevils. (@centredevils) October 17, 2025
Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Anfield after experiencing mild discomfort, and his participation remains uncertain. The squad’s preparation has also been influenced by the international break, with Amorim monitoring the condition of several players returning after representing their national teams.
International Duty Impact and Potential Line-up Changes
United have afforded additional recovery time to seven players who featured for their countries earlier in the week. The physical toll of international travel, particularly for those who played in distant locations such as Japan, may necessitate rotation, with some players potentially starting on the bench in the crucial derby against Liverpool.
At today’s press conference, Amorim provided a comprehensive update on squad fitness. He confirmed Martínez’s continued absence and discussed the uncertain status of Mazraoui: “Martínez is not ready, he is close, but he has not yet returned to training with the team. About Mazraoui, I don’t know,” Amorim told reporters. “The other guys from the national teams are ready, but some played in Japan, so we need to be cautious. Diogo Dalot did not play in the last match, Bruno played 62 minutes.”
Goalkeeper Selection Dilemma
The manager also faces a challenging decision in goal following Senne Lammens’ standout debut performance against Sunderland in the previous round. Since joining from Antwerp in the summer, Lammens has only accrued one appearance for United, but his display has left a strong impression on Amorim.
Amorim commented: “You have to prove yourself during the week, he performed very well, it’s possible that he could start the match. The first impression is really important, but maintaining the level is even more important, it’s really hard. He’s still not Schmeichel. He is a young, talented player.”
