David de Gea is a doubt for Manchester United’s meeting with rivals Liverpool on Sunday after picking up an apparent groin injury on international duty.
The goalkeeper pulled up while making a clearance during Spain’s 1-1 European Championship qualifying draw with Sweden in Stockholm and was substituted after an hour.
De Gea, who was replaced by Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga, was able to walk off the pitch but his involvement in Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford was nevertheless cast into doubt.
Robert Moreno, Spain’s head coach, said after the final whistle that De Gea had suffered the injury during the first half and attempted to play on.
“It’s a pity for him,” Moreno added. ”It’s a pull in his adductor muscle and we’ll have to see what the extent of the damage is.”
1/23 Martin Dubravka – 7
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2/23 Deandre Yedlin – 7
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3/23 Fabian Schar – 7
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4/23 Jamaal Lascelles – 6
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5/23 Ciaran Clark – 6
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6/23 Jetro Willems – 7
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7/23 Matty Longstaff – 9
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8/23 Sean Longstaff – 8
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9/23 Miguel Almiron – 7
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10/23 Allam Saint-Maximin – 7
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11/23 Joelinton – 5
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12/23 David De Gea – 6
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13/23 Diogo Dalot – 6
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14/23 Marcus Rojo – 5
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15/23 Harry Maguire – 5
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16/23 Ashley Young – 6
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17/23 Axel Tuanzebe – 5
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18/23 Fred – 5
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19/23 Scott McTominay – 6
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20/23 Juan Mata – 5
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21/23 Andreas Pereira – 5
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22/23 Marucs Rashford – 5
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23/23 Daniel James – 6
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1/23 Martin Dubravka – 7
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2/23 Deandre Yedlin – 7
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3/23 Fabian Schar – 7
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4/23 Jamaal Lascelles – 6
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5/23 Ciaran Clark – 6
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6/23 Jetro Willems – 7
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7/23 Matty Longstaff – 9
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8/23 Sean Longstaff – 8
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9/23 Miguel Almiron – 7
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10/23 Allam Saint-Maximin – 7
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11/23 Joelinton – 5
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12/23 David De Gea – 6
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13/23 Diogo Dalot – 6
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14/23 Marcus Rojo – 5
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15/23 Harry Maguire – 5
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16/23 Ashley Young – 6
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17/23 Axel Tuanzebe – 5
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18/23 Fred – 5
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19/23 Scott McTominay – 6
Action Images via Reuters
20/23 Juan Mata – 5
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21/23 Andreas Pereira – 5
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22/23 Marucs Rashford – 5
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23/23 Daniel James – 6
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If De Gea is unavailable for the visit of Liverpool, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to turn to back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Romero played in United’s narrow EFL Cup and Europa League victories over Rochdale and Astana respectively but the Argentine’s last league appearance came back in May 2018.
De Gea joins a long list of injured players at United, with Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jesse Lingard and Victor Lindelof all missing games before the October international break.
Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Mason Greenwood and Diogo Dalot have also been sidelined of late, though Solskjaer will hope to have several players back in time for Sunday.
