Manchester United have confirmed that their striker will not be a part of the high-octane clash against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Tuesday.
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The footballing world on Monday was shocked to learn that Cristiano Ronaldo’s baby boy sadly passed away. Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez revealed in October last year that they were expecting twins. The baby girl lived, however, the boy could not survive. The Portuguese striker announced the sad news on Instagram, saying it is the “greatest pain” any parent can feel. Now, Manchester United have confirmed that their striker will not be a part of the high-octane clash against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
A statement from Manchester United read: “Everybody at Manchester United and indeed the football world is sending love to Cristiano Ronaldo and his family, after the club legend made a heart-breaking announcement on Monday evening.”
“Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time. As such, we can confirm that he will not feature in the match against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening and we underline the family’s request for privacy. Cristiano, we are all thinking of you and sending strength to the family.”
READ MORE – Cristiano Ronaldo news: Manchester United forward’s baby boy passes away
Here are the players who could fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence for the highly-anticipated Liverpool clash:
He is the safest bet, considering his past experience of playing in that position. Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal introduced Rashford as a centre-forward, but with time his predecessors Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have moved the English frontman to the left side of a front three.
He can also play on the right side of the front three, making him a valuable member of his squad. While his versatility could be Rashford’s biggest strength, his form this season has been worrying. This has even resulted in Ralf Rangnick dropping him from the starting line-up in some matches.
Rangnick could deploy the Portuguese attacking midfielder in a false nine role. Fernandes has played in that position, famously in the 4-1 drubbing against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. It is not a nice memory for either the player or the team.
However, Fernandes’ ability to link up play and allow runners to get past him could work for United. He also closes down and applies a lot of pressure on the opponents’ defence, hurrying them to pass the ball forward quickly. However, the occasion on Tuesday may be too big to risk a line-up like this.
READ MORE – Bruno Fernandes involved in car crash; will he be fit to face Liverpool?
Although Elanga has primarily played as a winger, the youngster has all attributes to be Rangnick’s centre-forward. He is strong, quick, pacy and knows how to finish his chances. All these qualities make him suited to play in a Rangnick system.
The interim manager wants his team to quickly move the ball from back to front in possession. When they don’t have the ball, he wants his players, starting from the frontline, to apply pressure on the opponents. Elanga’s work rate without the ball has already been praised by many, which could make him an ideal candidate for the striker or the false nine position.
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