Di Maria to miss Liverpool clash with hamstring injury

Posted Saturday, December 13, 2014 by Goal.com

The Argentine hobbled out of last month's 3-0 win over Hull City at Old Trafford and is not yet fit to return, while Chris Smalling is also unavailable with a groin problem

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has ruled Angel Di Maria out of the clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Di Maria has not featured for United since limping off in the 14th minute of last month's 3-0 victory over Hull City at Old Trafford with a hamstring injury and is not yet ready to return.

Van Gaal will also be without centre-back Chris Smalling, who will be missing for a further two weeks with a groin problem that forced him off 18 minutes into Monday's 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary's.

But, overall, the United manager is optimistic that the injury crisis that has plagued his start to life at Old Trafford is finally beginning to ease.

"We have only four players injured so that is better than ever," he told MUTV. "We have Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind."

Shaw suffered ankle ligament damage during United's 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last month, while Blind has been ruled out until 2015 with a knee problem.

Phil Jones, however, is available again after recovering from a shin problem that has sidelined him since late October, while Rafael has overcome a groin problem and could feature against Liverpool.