DAVID DE GEA will miss Manchester United’s crunch clash against Liverpool amid fears he could be out for up to two months.
The Old Trafford No 1 hobbled out of Spain’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Sweden last night with what looked like a thigh injury.
De Gea, 28, was under no pressure when he fell to the floor after clearing a back pass in the 59th minute.
The former Atletico keeper got back to his feet by himself but limped off the field in clear discomfort after clutching the inside of his thigh.
And now he looks set to miss his first Premier League game through injury in more than four years when Jurgen Klopp’s European champions visit on Sunday.
De Gea was immediately replaced by Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Spaniards came back from 1-0 down to draw 1-1.
United bosses fear his injury could rule him out for up to two months.
That would leave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with no choice but to play back-up Sergio Romero – who actually has a better league record than the Spaniard – ahead of De Gea’s expected return before the manic Christmas period.
Solskjaer will be desperate to have De Gea – who signed a new £73million deal last month – back before the Manchester derby at the Etihad on December 7.
And he will be praying his star man could be fit for Spurs’ visit to the Theatre of Dreams four days before.
De Gea is almost certain to miss the Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 30.
It is thought he will have to sit out the Europa League trip to Partizan Belgrade in Serbia next Thursday and possibly the 6,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan champions Astana on November 28.
Spain manager Robert Moreno revealed De Gea suffered the injury in the first half of the draw with Sweden but chose to carry on playing.
He said: “He had pain in the abductor muscle, but he received treatment at half-time and wanted to keep playing.
“He gave us his word, but in the end he couldn’t continue.”
“It’s a pity for him. It’s a pull in his muscle and we’ll have to see what the extent of the damage is.”
De Gea has missed just six United games through injury or illness in almost eight-and-a-half years at the club.
And the timing could not be worse for under-fire Solskjaer.
Paul Pogba has been seen with dressing on his right foot with club chiefs hoping he will be fit for Sunday.
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Anthony Martial has not played since August with a thigh injury but could return to face Liverpool.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard are also expected to be fit to start.
Liverpool keeper Alisson is expected to return following a two-month injury lay-off that has seen him not play since the Premier League leaders’ season opener against Norwich.