Ronald Araujo finished Uruguay’s win over Argentina on Friday night walking with difficulty, according to the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador, a week before Manchester United visit Anfield. Neither Liverpool nor the Uruguayan federation has commented.
Overnight, Mauricio Pochettino’s United States beat Haiti 6-0 in his penultimate game before he takes charge at Old Trafford, and four Liverpool players are in squads for tonight’s Nations League games.
Araujo fitness watch
Araujo played the full game in central defence as Uruguay won 2-1 at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. In its player ratings, El Observador gave him five out of 10, said he won the header that led to Uruguay’s opening goal, which went down as an own goal by Leonardo Balerdi, and said he finished the match walking with difficulty after a well-timed challenge on Julián Álvarez.
On Saturday the same paper listed Uruguay’s confirmed absentees for Tuesday’s friendly against the Dominican Republic in Maldonado as Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Guillermo Varela and Joaquín Piquerez, all released early at their clubs’ request. Araujo was not named among the players released early.
Araujo, 27, is on loan from Barcelona. There has been no official word on his condition from Liverpool or from Uruguay.
Pochettino’s USA hit six
The United States beat Haiti 6-0 at Nu Stadium in Miami in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final, with Christian Pulisic scoring twice. It was the biggest win of Pochettino’s two years in charge.
The second leg in Cincinnati on Tuesday will be his last game as USA head coach. He officially becomes Manchester United head coach on Wednesday 18 November, and his first game in charge will be at Anfield next Sunday.
No change on Szoboszlai
Liverpool have not issued a fresh update on Dominik Szoboszlai’s knee since he played the full game in Hungary’s 2-0 win in Georgia on Saturday, having said afterwards that he came close to pulling out during the warm-up. Hungary host Northern Ireland at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Tuesday at 7.45pm UK time.
Reds on duty tonight
Bradley Barcola and Jeremy Jacquet, who both started France’s 3-1 defeat in Italy on Thursday, are in the France squad to face Turkiye in Bordeaux. Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz could come up against each other when Spain host England in Madrid. Both games kick off at 7.45pm UK time.
Transfer talk
Football Insider claims Liverpool have joined the race for Lens defender Ismaelo Ganiou. The claim has not been backed up by an established Liverpool reporter. Credibility: Low.
Sport Witness reported on Tuesday that Liverpool have made enquiries with Palmeiras about young attacking midfielder Erick Belé. The report has since been repeated by Brazilian websites, but the original source says no formal offer has been made. Credibility: Low.
Both stories were reproduced on the Media Watch page of Liverpool’s official website, which is not club confirmation. There have been no credible new contract, ownership or senior staffing developments overnight.
Fixtures (UK times)
Sun 22 Nov: Manchester United (h) Premier League 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Wed 25 Nov: Club Brugge (a) Champions League 8pm (TNT Sports)
Sun 29 Nov: Everton (a) Premier League 12pm (TNT Sports)
