05 March 2023 , 00:27
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Raphael Varane will have a late fitness test ahead of Manchester United's Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
It is believed the former France international, 29, has a leg complaint and will need to be assessed on the morning of the game. Erik ten Hag is expected to give Harry Maguire the nod if Varane is not fit, with Lisandro Martinez set to continue at left-centre-back.
The Red Devils take on their bitter rivals at Anfield, with a lot at stake. Ten Hag's side have slipped 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race and must make full use of their two games in hand if they are to keep their slim hopes alive.
Liverpool, meanwhile, find themselves sixth in the table - six points behind Tottenham with two games in hand. Jurgen Klopp's Champions League chasers will be fully aware of the opportunity in front of them, but a loss on Sunday afternoon would be big blow.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Varane has been complaining of leg pain in recent days. He started and completed United's Carabao Cup final victory against Newcastle at Wembley last Sunday afternoon, but he played just a minute of Wednesday night's FA Cup fifth-round triumph against West Ham at Old Trafford as a late substitute.
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Ten Hag's preferred centre-back partnership is Varane on the right and Martinez on the left. The Dutchman likes his right-centre-back to be right-footed, which means club captain Maguire or fellow defender Victor Lindelof are Varane's obvious deputies.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are ready to deputise for Raphael Varane (Getty Images)How important is Raphael Varane to Manchester United's hopes of winning silverware? Let us know in the comments below!
"It is my way of playing, or our way, and it is better," explained Ten Hag after the West Ham game. "I prefer to have a player with a lot of initiative [at right-centre-back] and when you are left-footed you have better angles [at left-centre-back]."
Ten Hag appreciates that his team are playing twice-a-week at the moment and often rotates his defence to keep them fresh. As such, he will not be afraid to rest Varane, although it is always a bonus when a player of the Frenchmen's calibre is available.
Varane is United's most experienced centre-back after winning the World Cup with France and the Champions League four times with Real Madrid. It was quite the coup when United persuaded the defender to say goodbye to Spain in the summer of 2021.
Varane's injury record is not the best. He managed just 22 Premier League games last season and recently retired from international football at a relatively young age. The former Lens star won 93 senior caps for his country and will be a big miss for France.
"I gave everything, physically and mentally," said Varane during an interview with Canal+ shortly after confirming his international retirement. "But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.
"We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I'm suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man."