Liverpool dealt major injury scare ahead of Manchester United clash

Liverpool dealt major injury scare ahead of Manchester United clash Ronald Araujo Injury Concern Before Liverpool vs Manchester United Liverpool have an issue to monitor, and it comes at an awkward time. Ronald Araujo ended Uruguay’s win over Argentina in visible discomfort, leaving a fresh question mark hanging over Andoni Iraola’s selection plans before Manchester United arrive at Anfield. Uruguay won 2-1 in Buenos Aires after a Leonardo Balerdi own goal and a Maximiliano Araújo header put them in control. Julián Álvarez pulled one back, but the bigger concern for Liverpool was Araujo’s condition by the final whistle. The defender had a direct hand in the opening goal, winning the first aerial duel from Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s free kick before the ball went in off Balerdi. He also handled Argentina’s attack well for long spells, doing the basic work properly and keeping things under control. Then came the problem. Araujo was reported by El Observador to have finished the game “walking with difficulty” after a late challenge on Álvarez. That does not automatically mean a serious injury. It could be a knock, nothing more. But with no official update from either camp, there is no certainty. Liverpool defensive worry grows This matters because Araujo has become important quickly. Since arriving from Barcelona on loan, he has been one of Liverpool’s more reliable performers and collected the club’s Player of the Month award for October. Iraola has mainly used him at right back this season, and that flexibility has real value in a squad that has already looked short of rhythm at times. Photo: liverpoolfc.com It also matters because there is a recent fitness pattern here. A calf issue affected Araujo’s involvement for Uruguay at the World Cup in the summer, before he recovered and rebuilt momentum at club level. When a player has that background, any visible discomfort gets noticed. Manchester United test looms at Anfield The timing is poor. Manchester United visit on Sunday 22 November for Mauricio Pochettino’s first match in charge, and Liverpool do not have much margin for error. They have taken only five points from their home games so far this season, which tells its own story. Uruguay’s next fixture, against the Dominican Republic in Maldonado at 11.30pm GMT on Tuesday 17 November, should provide the first genuine clue. If Araujo is rested, Liverpool will read into it. If he starts and moves freely, concern will ease. For now, that is all it is, concern. No diagnosis, no firm timeline, no useful public detail. Just a key Liverpool defender, eight days before a major game, finishing an international match “walking with difficulty”. That is enough to make people nervous.