Manchester United: Marouane Fellaini to miss Liverpool clash due to injury

The Belgian midfielder had been in fine form for Manchester United prior to the international break.

Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini sidelined for a few weeks after a knee injury Reuters

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is set to miss their Premier League clash against Liverpool after picking up a knee injury playing for Belgium.

The former Everton man went off after 29 minutes of a World Cup qualifying win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday.

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Fellaini has been ruled out of United's trip to Liverpool on Saturday because of strained medial knee ligaments, while on international duty. It is expected he will need a number of weeks to recover, according to the BBC.

In a post on social media, Belgium said Fellaini has had a scan and will be "out for a couple of weeks".

They face Cyprus in their final World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, while United travel to Anfield on 14 October. Fellaini has scored four goals for United this season, including two in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in their last game before the international break.

United's manager José Mourinho is already without Paul Pogba, who has a serious hamstring problem. In the Frenchman's absence Fellaini has partnered Nemanja Matic in the United midfield ahead of Ander Herrera, who was first-choice last season.

Fellaini suffered the injury in Belgium's 4-3 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Sarajevo, limping off after 29 minutes after hurting his left knee in an awkward fall. His involvement in the game may frustrate Mourinho as Belgium had already qualified for Russia 2018, as per reports by the Guardian.

The pair's absence will mean Mourinho has to rely on Matic and Herrera. United have six games including playing Benfica in Lisbon in their third Champions League group match four days after facing Jürgen Klopp's team.

United's other matches are the away games at Huddersfield Town in the Premier League and Swansea City in the Carabao Cup, before the league visit of Tottenham Hotspur and the return match against Benfica. United go to Chelsea on 5 November and whether Fellaini will be available for selection against the champions remains unclear.

Romelu Lukaku, Fellaini's club and international team-mate, did not play against Bosnia-Herzegovina because of an ankle problem. The centre-forward is due to have a test on Monday before Roberto Martínez decides whether to choose him for Tuesday night's final Group H qualifier against Cyprus.

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