Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says victory for either side would be huge as second-placed Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
And he warned the Blues that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United can strike like a snake on the break.
Tuchel said: “They are a team that can hurt you in any second with individual quality, a team that can hurt you at any second with speed.
“They are a strong side away from home because they can defend compactly and are very good in transition with their wingers and Marcus Rashford.
“Bruno Fernandes has excellent delivery and then there’s Mason Greenwood, Edi Cavani, Anthony Martial, and whoever else plays will be a challenge to defend.
“So the implication is huge. If we get a win out of this game it’s huge for us, if they win it’s huge for them to put more points between us.”
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will heartbreakingly miss his father’s funeral due to coronavirus restrictions after he drowned in Brazil.
Jose Agostinho Becker, 57, was found dead at midnight on Wednesday by a lake on the family’s rural property near Lavros do Sul in southern Brazil.
And The Mail reports Reds shot-stopper Alisson, 28, desperately tried to find a way to negate travel bans and restrictions in order to return to Brazil to be with his family.
But with his wife 28-weeks pregnant and the prospect of a ten-day stint in hotel quarantine, he has been unable to find a way home.
Alisson’s boss Jurgen Klopp tragically found himself in a similar situation earlier this month when he was forced to skip his mother’s funeral with a total ban on travel into Germany from the UK.
Jose Becker was declared missing at around 5pm on Wednesday when workers on the ranch raised the alarm with his family who alerted local police.
His funeral will take place on Friday in Novo Hamburgo – where the family’s main residence is.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba is still ‘weeks’ away from returning to action but hopes three others will be fit for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
Pogba has been on the sidelines for United’s last five games in all competitions after suffering a thigh injury during the thrilling 3-3 draw with Everton at the start of the month.
The French international was expected to be fit again at the start of March but it looks like Pogba is facing an extended spell on the treatment table as Solskjaer revealed last night that the midfielder is still ‘a few weeks’ away from returning to fitness, report Football Talk.
Pogba’s absence is a concern for Manchester United as he was in fine form before picking up his thigh injury and the Red Devils suffered a second blow last night after Daniel James was forced off during the draw with Real Sociedad.
James started the second leg of United’s Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday night but was substituted midway through the second period after feeling a ‘tweak’ and he’ll need to be assessed ahead of Sunday’s game with Chelsea.
However, Manchester United fans will be happy regarding the availability of Edinson Cavani, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay as Solskjaer hopes the trio will all be fit to return for the trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Cavani and van de Beek have missed Man Utd’s last three games with muscle issues while McTominay has sat out the past two matches but the trio could all be available to face Chelsea if they come through late fitness checks.
Speaking after United’s draw with Sociedad on Thursday night, Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:
”Scott, Donny and Edinson we hope that they can be available for the weekend, but I’m not sure. Paul is still out for a few weeks unfortunately.”
“He [James] felt a tweak. With the intensity he works at he felt something, so we hope it’s not really serious; we’ll have to check on him.”
Manchester United head into Sunday’s game sitting second in the Premier League table but are 10 points adrift of leaders City and six points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea, so they desperately need a positive result in west London.