Erik ten Hag might have to drop three Manchester United players from his matchday squad

For the first time this Premier League season, Erik ten Hag made changes to his starting line up for the visit of Liverpool prior to the international break.

Having named the exact same XI for the opening two games against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion, the United manager made three alterations for the 3-0 defeat to Arne Slot’s team – one of which was enforced.

Mason Mount was forced off with a muscle issue against Brighton, ruling him out of ‘a few games’, meaning Joshua Zirkzee came into the team to make his first start for the club. It meant a slight tactical tweak, with Bruno Fernandes dropping back into a more familiar midfield role.

Elsewhere, Alejandro Garnacho bagged his first start since the FA Cup final, replacing Amad on the right-wing, and Matthijs de Ligt made his first start since arriving from Bayern Munich, taking Harry Maguire’s place at centre-back.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southampton, there is a possibility Ten Hag might be able to include Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund in his plans. Neither of them have featured for United so far this season because of calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

United, confirming Shaw would miss the start of the season four weeks ago, said they were hopeful the left-back would be available after the international break. The same juncture was identified as a realistic return date for Hojlund.

Whether they return on Saturday, against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup next Tuesday night or slightly further down the line, there is no doubt that once they are both back up to full fitness and match sharpness they will feature in Ten Hag’s first-choice XI. Diogo Dalot has covered for Shaw at left-back so far this term, and Zirkzee and Fernandes have job shared in Hojlund’s absence.

United have not named a recognised full-back on the bench so far this season, meaning Shaw’s return cannot come soon enough. The expectation is that he will reclaim the left-back spot, Dalot will revert to right-back and summer signing Noussair Mazraoui will drop to the bench.

If that proves to be the case, there is a good chance, when analysing the nine substitutes Ten Hag named against Liverpool, that Jonny Evans’ place in the matchday squad will be sacrificed. Maguire was also on the bench against Liverpool and it is highly likely Ten Hag will prefer to have a full-back and a centre-back available as cover rather than naming two central defenders among the substitutes.

At the other end of the pitch, Hojlund’s impending return is likely to result in Zirkzee being dropped to the bench and fulfilling the role of the Dane’s deputy. Hojlund is United’s striker-in-chief and Zirkzee was drafted in from Bologna to provide support and competition.

Should that prove to be the case, it is highly likely Ethan Wheatley will be the attacker who is sacrificed. The defeat to Liverpool saw Ten Hag name three attackers among his substitutes, but two of them were wingers, meaning Wheatley was the only centre-forward.

Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte is waiting to be integrated into the team for the first time. The prospect of him starting this weekend means one of Christian Eriksen, Toby Collyer or Casemiro will likely lose their place.

Despite having to contend with no shortage of injury issues at the moment, Ten Hag, if he ever finds himself looking at an empty Carrington treatment room, is spoilt for choice as far as squad depth is concerned. Ugarte is waiting to come in, Victor Lindelof could soon return from his injury, likewise Mount, and Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia are heading in the right direction with their respective recoveries.

Of course, the importance of squad depth cannot be understated, especially when United will compete in three different competitions alone before the end of this month, but Ten Hag faces a challenge to select a 20-man matchday squad.

Nevertheless, sacrifices will have to be made to accommodate Shaw, Ugarte and Hojlund.