Manchester United handed Casemiro blow ahead of Liverpool

Casemiro has been away with Brazil during the international break and played twice for his country

The consensus is that Ruben Amorim will keep the same side that beat Sunderland before the international break when he takes Manchester United to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds recorded a much-needed victory when defeating the Black Cats 2-0 last time out. The result eased the pressure on the under-fire Amorim and moved United into the top half of the Premier League table.

A trip to Anfield awaits when the top flight returns this weekend and while Arne Slot's side have lost their last three games in all competitions, it remains a daunting prospect for a United side who haven't won at Anfield in nearly a decade.

Amorim opted for Mason Mount and Senne Lammens from the start against Sunderland and those two are in line to retain their places on Merseyside. Casemiro has been preferred as Bruno Fernandes' partner in midfield in recent weeks but Amorim has been handed something of a dilemma with the veteran.

Casemiro has been in action for Brazil over the international break, alongside Mathues Cunha, with the pair involved in a 5-0 victory over South Korea before they were stunned 3-2 by Japan on Tuesday.

That defeat has increased the pressure on boss Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the World Cup next summer and came after Brazil took a two goal lead.

But perhaps the most pertinent news for United from Brazil's trip to Asia, came in Casemiro playing 90 minutes in both games.

He captained the side in both fixtures and, at 33, has completed two full matches on the other side of the world with the physical and travel exertions that come with it. That is hardly ideal preparation for a domestic derby on Sunday with the midfielder set to have a minimum number of training sessions back at Carrington before the trip to Liverpool.

Casemiro is a renowned trainer and may well cope with the demands placed on him. Speaking to United's website, he said: “I started to see a more gym focused side to me, where I tried to become stronger. We’re from Brazil, our main concern is quality with the ball, but it is important not to forget the physical side. In modern football, quality will always win, but the physical side is crucial too.

“For me, my favourite thing to train is core. 100 per cent — core. Everything must be trained, but core is the base for everything. What people see on the outside can be beautiful, but this is what is on the inside, you have to be strong. In football, there is lots of contact and collisions. So, it is the most important part of the body and of the exercises.”

Casemiro has already racked up 330 Premier League minutes this season, a figure that would have been higher had he not been sent off against Chelsea and subsequently missed the defeat at Brentford through suspension.

It means Amorim must make a call on whether Casemiro can go again against Liverpool or whether his minutes will need to be managed.

If Casemiro did drop to the bench, Manuel Ugarte - who deputised at Brentford - and Kobbie Mainoo would be the leading contenders to come into the side.

Cunha, meanwhile, started Brazil's win over South Korea but was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining before coming off the bench for the final half an hour against Japan.

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