LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Liverpool and Manchester United both left big-money summer signings on the bench for Sunday’s Premier League clash.
Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were both omitted from defending champions Liverpool’s starting line-up at Anfield.
United left striker Benjamin Sesco on the bench.
This means Alexander Isak has started in Liverpool’s front line after making a British record move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.
Ekitike was a surprise absence after an impressive start with five goals in 10 games since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in the off-season.
However, Wirtz has struggled to find form since joining from Bayer Leverkusen.
United named two of their summer signings in attack, Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo, while new goalkeeper Senne Lamence made his second start for the club.
Sesco’s absence came despite scoring in back-to-back games before the international break.
United are without a win in their last 10 visits to Anfield, their last win coming in 2016. There have been some humiliating defeats since then – 7-0 in 2023 and 4-0 in 2022.
Liverpool have suffered their worst run under manager Arne Slott, having lost three in a row, and were four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal before kick-off.
A win would move the Merseyside club into second place.
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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