Harry Maguire came off at half-time in the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa with a bad back spasm, and the club has given no return date. With United 18th and Lisandro Martínez suspended for Villa, Maguire's fitness shapes the defence Michael Carrick can pick at Anfield.

The club has not set a return date for Harry Maguire, and the timing matters for United. Maguire was recently the only fit senior centre-back at the club. Lisandro Martínez was suspended for the Villa match. If Maguire is not ready for Anfield, Carrick will have to rely on Ayden Heaven, De Ligt and Leny Yoro. That would mean going into one of the hardest away games of the season without an experienced defence.

Martínez sat on the bench against Roma before his ban

Martínez is not a straightforward answer to the problem. He was left on the bench for the Champions League game against Roma, where Carrick paired Heaven with Maguire, according to the Evening Standard. His contract with the club runs out at the end of this season.

The Roma selection shows Carrick has already chosen Heaven over Martínez once. Whether Maguire is fit will decide if that partnership can be repeated at Anfield.

A late comeback still left United in the bottom three

The Villa game showed how fragile the back line has become.

Villa raced into a 2-0 lead early in the first half. Their goals came from Alysson, Nicolas Jackson, John McGinn and Leon Goretzka. Early in the second half, the visitors were two goals clear again.

The defensive trouble continued after the break. Villa’s fourth goal came when Yoro headed the ball towards his own goal. Goretzka then scored once Senne Lammens had pushed it onto the post.

United still found a way back. Villa’s lead held until second-half stoppage time began. Joshua Zirkzee scored in the 92nd minute. Patrick Dorgu then headed the equaliser after Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki misjudged a late corner. Supporters voted Dorgu Player of the Match.

The point did little for the league position. United’s only Premier League win this season came in August. The draw keeps them in the relegation zone.

Carrick felt his side were making things too difficult for themselves. He still saw enough positives to turn the season around. The head coach also backed Diogo Dalot after some home supporters booed the defender, while accepting that fans were frustrated.

That run is why the fitness of one defender carries so much weight. A side that concedes four at home cannot afford to lose its most reliable fit centre-back before a trip to Anfield. A rested Maguire would give Carrick a defence with experience.

United’s next fixture is away at Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November.