Man Utd could be without five players vs Liverpool following red card confusion and illness outbreak

Manchester United will be boosted by the return of Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte following suspension against Liverpool, but Ruben Amorim could still be left without five players at Anfield. The Portuguese confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the out-of-favour Marcus Rashford is a doubt for the trip to Merseyside because of illness.

"It's the same situation but, at the moment, he's ill," Amorim said. "I think he's going to be out this week. He's not training so we will see."

Rashford had been an unused substitute for United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Monday, having been left out of the Red Devils’ matchday squad for their previous four matches amid ongoing speculation about his future.

While the forward is a doubt to face Liverpool, United will definitely be without Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof because of injury.

Both Mount and Shaw have been plagued by injury at Old Trafford, with it confirmed last month that both had suffered setbacks after only recently returning.

Meanwhile, Jonny Evans was absent from the United squad on Monday night, with youngster Godwill Kukonki named on the bench instead. While the reason for his absence was unspecified, the Red Devils website have included the Northern Irishman in their team news round-up ahead of the game.

Fernandes will be available to face Liverpool despite being issued his second red card of the season away at Wolverhampton Wanderers. While he was also dismissed against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season, that was later rescinded.

He only had to serve a one-match ban as opposed to two which is traditionally the result of a second domestic dismissal of the campaign.

Ugarte is also back in contention after serving a one-match ban against Newcastle after accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League.