Erik ten Hag speaks as Man Utd suffer three more injury scares in Liverpool defeat | Football | Sport

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spoken out after his side suffered three injury scares in their pre-season defeat to Liverpool in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas scored goals for Arne Slot’s side in a 3-0 win in Columbia, South Carolina, in front of a crowd of 77,559 fans.

United put in a creditable performance but were ultimately outclassed in the goals department and Ten Hag will have learned a lot from the performance. However, the Dutchman was also tasked with further injury concerns as a result of the match.

Defensive injuries have been United’s nightmare in the 2023/24 season and they also threaten to derail their preparations for the new campaign.

Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans started the match against Liverpool but were taken off at half-time.

Academy graduate Will Fish was among those who entered the fray as a substitute but was carried off the field on a stretcher in the second half after a collision with Liverpool’s Harvey Blair.

Speaking to MUTV about concerns over Lindelof, Evans and Fish, Ten Hag said: “Always, we have to see what happened. The assessment, of course, with Will Fish is that it’s an impact injury.

“We also had to replace Jonny Evans at half-time because he was ill. Victor Lindelof (was) a precaution. So, yes, there are some injuries, but we have to see how bad it will be.”

Harry Maguire also missed the game as a precaution as United look to avoid defensive problems.

United already have a number of talented players sidelined by injuries who are in a race against time to be fit for the opening weekend of next season in two weeks’ time.

Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund picked up injuries against Arsenal, which will rule them out for the first few weeks of next season.

Antony and Marcus Rashford also had problems that forced them off against Real Betis, although the latter appears to have recovered from the problem as he played – and looked sharp – against Liverpool on Sunday.

On Maguire, former Ajax boss Ten Hag said: “Pre-season is always difficult. But yes, Harry Maguire, as a precaution we left him out.”