Manchester United fans woke up on Sunday morning worried that Nemanja Matic wouldn't be fit for their crunch Premier League tie with Liverpool, and their worst fears came true an hour before kick-off as the Serbian defensive midfielder wasn't named in the matchday squad.
Matic was said to not have stayed overnight at the Lowry Hotel last night which got the rumour mill rolling, but when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named his team at 1:05pm it was a starting XI without Matic and it is Scott McTominay that has been given the job as United's defensive midfielder.
Instant panic reverberated around United fans with the thought of McTominay having to stop the likes of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, while the Red Devils fans were even more exasperated when Romelu Lukaku was named in the team at Old Trafford.
Anthony Martial is out of today's clash altogether, while Jesse Lingard is only the bench, so Solskjaer needed to fill an attacking void and Lukaku will partner Rashford up front as United aim to put a huge dent in Liverpool's title chances.
Taking to social media following the team announcements, United fans were far from impressed with the loss of Matic and the decision to play Lukaku:
No Matic and Martial. This game just got 10 times harder ffs. Lukaku and Scott Mctomainy this will be fun... [Pochszn]
Good one now release the real starting XI [archie_aspi]
Fred can’t even get into the starting XI with McTominay starting. Awful midfielder I must say until proven otherwise! [GeniusMUFC]
How bad has Fred got to be that McTominay starts before him? 🙆♂️ #mufc [Papslam]
Man Utd will lose. The best result is draw. They will press us. Mata isn´t Lingard and Lukaku Martial. Pogba won´t do defensive duties. [heaven752]
Not feeling too confident after seeing the lineup. Mctominay adds soo little to the team, Lukaku’s been poor, & Smalling in defence.... [parthamore]
McTominay lol. Boy this is the game of his life so he better step up!! Lukaku better step up too! [Antz0409]
What will today bring?
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#MUNLIV
