Manchester United were hit by an extraordinary triple-injury blow in the first half against Liverpool, as Ander Herrera and Juan Mata both came off with knocks in the opening half an hour before Mata’s replacement, Jesse Lingard, was himself forced off before the break.
Herrera was the first to leave the action with what appeared to be a muscle injury, and was replaced by Andreas Pereira. A few minutes later Juan Mata, who had been hopping on one leg with an injury of his own, had to be replaced by Jesse Lingard in United’s front three.
To make matters worse, the substitute Lingard, who had only just returned to the squad following an injury lay-off, pulled up holding his hamstring in a nightmare 45 minutes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solkskjaer’s only saving grace was the United were able to reach the break with the scores still level, but it meant heading into the second period without any more changes to make against a Liverpool side desperate to retake their place at the top of the table.
Liverpool had problems of their own when Roberto Firmino innocuously turned his ankle playing a pass, and had to be replaced by Daniel Sturridge in Jurgen Klopp’s front line.
