Manchester United dealt injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester United dealt injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash Mauricio Pochettino Faces Immediate Manchester United Problem Before Liverpool Trip Mauricio Pochettino has barely walked through the door and already has a problem to solve. Manchester United’s new head coach officially starts on November 18, with his first match coming three days later at Anfield. There is no soft landing here, no easing in, no time for long meetings and tactical whiteboards. It starts with Liverpool away. That alone tells you the scale of the task. United are in the Premier League relegation zone, Michael Carrick has paid the price for a poor start to the 2026/27 campaign, and Pochettino arrives with pressure already baked in. Results matter immediately. So does availability. Right now, one of United’s few useful options on the left side looks doubtful. Patrick Dorgu Injury Gives Pochettino Early Headache Patrick Dorgu came off the bench against Aston Villa last weekend and made an impact straight away, setting up Joshua Zirkzee’s late goal in a chaotic 4-4 draw. It was his first appearance in almost two months after a hamstring injury, and for 24 minutes it looked like United had a timely boost. That optimism did not last. Dorgu has now withdrawn from Denmark duty after another fitness setback, and further assessment awaits back in Manchester. Denmark head coach Brian Riemer explained the issue clearly. “Dorgu arrived and trained with the rest of the national team on Wednesday. “He’s still on his way back. The fact that he got those minutes against Aston Villa and did a fantastic job should be taken with a grain of salt. “There are still some lingering issues with the major muscle injury he suffered. We need to make sure it doesn’t flare up again. We’re optimistic, and we also believe things will go well.” He added: “But he’s a player we need to be careful with. As for what that means in terms of matches and playing time, we’ll have to wait and see.” The message is simple enough. Dorgu is not fully clear, and nobody wants to push him too soon. Given United’s lack of balance on that side, that matters. Manchester United Left-Back Issue Looks Increasingly Serious Left-back has become a weak point in this United side. Luke Shaw remains out with a muscle injury, although there is hope he could return for the Liverpool trip. Hope is one thing, certainty is another. Diogo Dalot has filled in there, but he is a right-back and it has shown. Dorgu has been used in several roles this season, left-back, left wing-back and on the wing, and his numbers are solid enough, one goal and three assists in seven appearances across all competitions. More importantly, he offers energy and directness. United need that. The Denmark FA confirmed the latest setback in a short statement: “Patrick Dorgu has undergone a series of tests ahead of the matches, but unfortunately will not be fully fit in time.” Team doctor Morten Boesen added: “We have carried out a series of tests on Dorgu, and he has not performed well enough to be ready to play in the two matches. He needs further recovery time after his injury, so we are sending him home for additional rehabilitation.” Liverpool Clash Will Test Pochettino Instantly Pochettino knows the league, knows the scrutiny, and knows what Anfield can do to an unprepared side. That experience is why United turned to him. Still, experience does not fix squad flaws in 72 hours. His first job is obvious. Tighten the team up, find a workable left side, and avoid adding to the mess United already find themselves in. Heading to Liverpool while short in a problem position is not ideal. Then again, at Old Trafford right now, ideal is off the table.