Angel di Maria will miss Manchester United’s crunch match against Liverpool on Sunday.

United’s record signing has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and will not be in the match day squad this weekend, manager Louis van Gaal confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

The good news for Van Gaal is that defenders Rafael and Phil Jones are both back from their long-term groin and shin injuries.

Having seen his first campaign interrupted by injuries, it is something of a relief for the Dutchman to see Jones and Rafael return. The duo have both been out for almost two months.

“Now, I have only four players injured, so that’s better than ever I believe,” the United manager said.

“Only (Luke) Shaw, (Chris) Smalling, Di Maria and (Daley) Blind (are out).”

United and Liverpool share an intense rivalry and a long history of titanic top of the table battles, but both clubs have fallen on hard times of late.

United finished seventh under David Moyes last season and are eight points off the top of the table now following a mixed start under Van Gaal.

Opposite number Brendan Rodgers came agonizingly close to lifting the title last season, but his team crumbled in the home straight and this year they are way off the pace and down in ninth position.

Gary Neville claimed on Monday United and Liverpool resembled two pub teams this year while ex assistant manager Mike Phelan also weighed in with criticism of the club’s physio department.

Van Gaal could not care less, though.

When asked whether he or his squad had been affected by the criticism, he replied: “No, because I don’t think somebody who is living outside the community of Manchester United can judge how we are doing. It is based on no facts. I analyse everything and it is based on no facts.”