Man Utd Team News: van Gaal Rules Duo Out Of Liverpool Trip + Jones Update

Manchester United will look to give their top four hopes a major boost when they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given ManUtd.com a team news and injury update.

Unfortunately the United boss feel that Bastian Schweinsteiger will just miss out on making his return due to a knee injury that he picked up during the latter stages of United’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United.

The German international is close to being in contention but van Gaal says the midfielder still needs more time to fully recover so is therefore expected to miss the trip to Anfield this weekend.

In a double blow, the United boss also confirmed that Michael Carrick is out of the game as he continues to nurse an injury that’s plagued him since the 2-1 victory over Swansea City two weeks ago.

There was some more positive news though as van Gaal revealed that Phil Jones could be back in contention after recovering from a foot injury that’s hampered him in recent weeks while Adnan Januzaj could be on the bench after building up his fitness in training following his return from loan at Borussia Dortmund.

van Gaal told the clubs website:

“I think we have the same injuries as before. Maybe Schweinsteiger is coming back but that is not sure. It is very tight to regain – he needs more time, I think.

“[Carrick] is also injured; we have forgotten to mention it but he was injured. He is still injured so he cannot play either.

“Jones is possible but [Marcos] Rojo, [Antonio] Valencia and [Luke] Shaw need a longer time. They are not ready yet.”

“We have taken no risk and we have built him [Januzaj] up in our way of training sessions. Now he can be on the bench or he shall play in the second team.”

If Schweisteiger fails to make the trip to Merseyside this weekend then Marouane Fellaini is expected to start alongside Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield against Liverpool.

Check out the latest Liverpool team news ahead of the game

United head to Anfield sitting sixth in the Premier League table and just two points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham so they’ll be hoping to come away with a positive result in order to boost their hopes of breaking in to the top four.