Liverpool and Manchester United both left counting the cost of international break injuries

Post-international break injury update: Both clubs set to be without key men

Sadio Mané and Marouane Fellaini have been ruled out of Saturday's meeting (Getty)

Liverpool and Manchester United have been left counting the cost of international break injuries ahead of their Premier League meeting at Anfield this weekend.

Both Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho would have hoped to see the end of World Cup qualifying come and go with a clean bill of health for their players on duty.

However, each of them has seen important players ruled out of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, while the availability of other squad members is doubtful.

Liverpool

A real body blow for Liverpool. Mané was substituted in the 89th minute of Senegal’s 2-0 victory over Cape Verde on Saturday and on his return to Melwood, medical staff informed Klopp that a hamstring problem could keep the winger out for up to six weeks.

Mané, who only recently came back into contention following a three-match domestic suspension, will play no part on Saturday and history shows Liverpool perform notably worse without him.

Since the 25-year-old’s debut in August 2016, his side average 2.2 Premier League goals with him present but just 1.6 goals without him.

Klopp has a number of alternatives and options available to him, but none are preferable to a fit and firing Mané.

Philippe Coutinho is likely to be pushed up from midfield into the front band of three, with Emre Can slotting into the middle of the park.

Dejan Lovren (back)

Lovren sat out of Croatia’s 1-1 draw with Finland last Friday but played the full 90 minutes of a vital 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Kiev on Monday night, which ensured his national side’s place in the World Cup play-offs.

Last month, Lovren admitted to taking five pills before every game in September to minimise the effects of back and Achilles tendon problems, which prevented him

That was still not enough for him to turn out every week and saw him miss Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat away to Manchester City and the 1-1 draw at home with Burnley.

The 28-year-old is still expected to start at Anfield on Saturday, but his playing time may be managed further over the coming weeks.

Other injuries: Adam Lallana (calf), Nathaniel Clyne (back).

Manchester United

Marouane Fellaini (knee)

Having grown into one of Mourinho’s most important players, Fellaini will be unavailable for his side's most important game of the season so far.

The Belgium international damaged his medial knee ligament while playing for Roberto Martinez’s side against Bosnia and Herzegovina, on a pitch that team-mate Kevin De Bruyne described as "the worst pitch I've played on since I was seven years old".

Fellaini, who scored twice in United’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on the last weekend on Premier League action, is expected to be out until the end of October.

With Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick also unavailable, Mourinho’s midfield is currently a little light. Nemanja Matic will retain his place in middle of the park and is likely to be joined by Ander Herrera, who has made just four starts so far this season.

Phil Jones (knee)

Jones withdrew from the squad for England's final World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania last week after being deemed unfit by Gareth Southgate’s medical staff.

The United defender was left out of the 4-1 Champions League win at CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago but surprisingly started from the off against Palace and played the full 90 minutes.

Jones’ slight knee problem should have cleared in time to make the trip to Anfield. Eric Bailly is likely to partner him in centre of Mourinho's defence.

Romelu Lukaku (ankle)

Following the injury to Fellaini, there was some concern at United that Belgium would risk Lukaku in their Group H dead rubber against Cyrpus on Tuesday night.

The striker played the entirety of his club side's victory over Palace despite carrying a slight ankle injury and it was feared that the problem could be exacerbated while away with his country.

Martinez, however, insisted that Lukaku was "100 per cent fit" to play on Monday and he ultimately came through the game unscathed, scoring the fourth in a routine 4-0 win.

Other injuries: Michael Carrick (calf), Paul Pogba (hamstring), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee), Marcos Rojo (knee).