Ralf Rangnick is keeping his fingers crossed that Raphael Varane will be able to return for Manchester United against Liverpool.
The defender is one of five players confirmed to be missing against Norwich on Saturday, with the France international having not recovered in time to face the Canaries. Varane was also forced to miss last weekend’s defeat to Everton.
He’s joined on the sidelines at Old Trafford by Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani, with the trio having also been missing on Merseyside. Fred is the latest name to be added to the injury list, having been forced off midway through the first-half at Goodison Park.
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The absence of those five leaves Rangnick with plenty to think about – not only against Norwich, but for the games to follow next week. United travel to Anfield on Tuesday, before heading to north London to face Arsenal in a couple of crucial games for their faint top four hopes.
Shaw, McTominay, Fred and Cavani are not expected to return for the trip to Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing side in midweek. Shaw in particular looks as though he may have already played his final game of the season, having had bolts taken out of his leg after limping off against Leicester.
There is better news though regarding Varane. The defender has been a big miss for United when he’s been absent this season, but Rangnick was able to offer up some hope ahead of Liverpool.
“I think probably with Raphael Varane, he’s the one who can hopefully come back for at least one of the next two games against Liverpool or Arsenal,” Rangnick told the club’s website. “With the others, I don’t see them coming back within the next couple of days.”
With just seven games to go, United have it all to do if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They sit six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, and need Antonio Conte’s side to slip-up at least twice, while contending with a difficult set of fixtures themselves.
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