Injury boost for Man Utd before Liverpool FA Cup clash

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expects to have several key players back from injury for their FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool, with Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all training this week.

"Today we had a session that they were all training," ten Hag told reporters before Sunday's match. "I think they will be available. We have one session on Saturday. We have to see how they recover from this, but it looks good."

Hojlund scored in six successive games across all competitions, with eight goals in his last eight games, before a muscle injury sidelined him for four games, including United's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round.

United are languishing in sixth in the Premier League and face a red-hot Liverpool side who are level on points at the top of the table with Arsenal, although they trail the Gunners on goal difference.

"Some games are bigger than others, I think Manchester United against Liverpool is always a big game. I am looking forward to it," ten Hag said.

"The fans see it as a very big game and they are very eager for us to win ... our fans have to be loud.

The FA Cup is the only silverware United remain in the hunt for amid a tough season.

Ibrahima Konate missed Thursday's Europa League hammering of Sparta Prague for Liverpool with a thigh injury, and Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp said he was not hopeful of his defender winning the race against time to be fit.

Bobby Clark was taken off after taking a knock against Sparta but Klopp expects the midfielder to be fine to face United, and is very happy with Mohamed Salah's progress since his recent return from injury.

Salah scored on Thursday in his first start for the club since returning injured from the African Cup of Nations in January, and now comes up against his favourite opponent, with 12 goals in 13 games against United.

"Mo is definitely ready," Klopp said.

"How many goals did he set up last night? Exceptional. Strange game second half, would have loved to take him off but wasn't possible because of Bobby's situation.

"Mo is pure quality. Ask him what he likes the most about Manchester United, but the more we talk about it the less likely that it will happen again."

Australian Associated Press