Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was without some big name players in training ahead of the clash with Liverpool.
Ruben Amorim looks on during training.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Amad were among the players to miss Manchester United full training on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim granted additional time off for the players who had been travelling for international duty or trained throughout the break.
Club sources confirmed that some players who were given additional time off by Amorim still reported to Carrington. However, they completed light recovery work instead of participating in full training.
United are preparing to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Amorim secured a much-needed 2-0 victory against Sunderland before the international break and has the opportunity to win back-to-back league games for the first time in his tenure.
Noussair Mazraoui has not played since September 20 due to an unspecified injury, but Amorim has raised the possibility of his return after the break.
Lisandro Martinez continues to be sidelined. Martinez is closing in on a return to full training, but his return to a matchday squad is not imminent and staff will not take any risks.
Martinez’s knee buckled when he fell to the ground against Crystal Palace at the beginning of February, and it was confirmed that he had suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament.
Speaking to club media this week, Casemiro discussed Martinez’s recovery and said: “Licha is on the final straight. He is a soldier who works so hard. He is always in the gym working hard.
“He works hard both on and off the pitch. He is a machine that works so hard. He is one those players who love to work hard. It is a pleasure to have him here. He works so much.
“We arrived at 9am, it’s now 4pm and he continues working. He has the experience to know when to work hard. I am so glad – not just me, everyone – because he is an essential player at the club.”
–
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.