Four first-half substitutions for the first time in a PL game since February 2009 as Roberto Firmino goes off too
Sunday 24 February 2019 18:32, UK
Manchester United lost three players before half-time in Sunday's match against Liverpool with Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata coming off injured.
Herrera was initially taken off with a suspected hamstring problem and replaced by Andreas Pereira after 21 minutes, and he was followed off by Mata, who also had a hamstring injury, just moments later with Lingard coming on.
Lingard, on his return from injury, lasted less than 20 minutes - suffering a recurrence of the hamstring problem which forced him off against Paris Saint-Germain 12 days ago - and was replaced by Alexis Sanchez.
United were already without Nemanja Matic and finished the half with Paul Pogba the only recognised midfield regular.
Marcus Rashford was also limping throughout the game after a challenge from Jordan Henderson in the opening exchanges.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, United caretaker-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "In football you've always got to be ready for anything, but losing three players first half with hamstring injuries...
"And probably we should've taken Marcus off as well. Henderson went through him and his ankle ballooned, but that was just one of many fouls on him, so if that's not accumulation of fouls I don't know what is.
"I was very concerned about Marcus staying out there and making the injury worse, but he's a warrior and he's a Manc and he knows what this means - we had to keep him on because we'd already made three subs."
Liverpool also suffered an early injury blow, with Roberto Firmino, who pulled up after rolling his ankle while passing the ball, being replaced by Daniel Sturridge after the half-hour mark.
