Erik ten Hag makes strong Harry Amass statement after Man Utd inclusion vs Liverpool

Erik ten Hag has included 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass in his Manchester United squad to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

United face up against Liverpool at Old Trafford for the second time in three weeks and will be hoping for a repeat of the FA Cup quarter-final which saw them win in dramatic fashion.

Ten Hag’s side won the game 4-3 after extra time, with Amad Diallo scoring the winning goal in the 121st minute.

However, since that moment, The Reds have dropped points in the final moments of games against Brentford and Chelsea, which has left them even further away from potential Champions League qualification.

Injuries to several defensive players have also dampened the mood at Old Trafford, with Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala the only fit central defenders for the Liverpool clash this time around.

This has, however, provided an excellent opportunity for Harry Amass, who has made the first-team squad for the game. It is has first call-up to Ten Hag’s side.

Amass, 17, joined the club in the summer from Watford and has excelled for the Under-18s this term. He has recently made several appearances for the U21s, trained with the first-team and signed his first professional contract at Old Trafford.

The left-back’s hard work has been rewarded with a place in the squad, and Ten Hag has suggested that it is not a token gesture and that Amass, as well as Habeeb Ogunneye, will be ready to make an impact on the game if needed.

Speaking on their inclusion in the squad, Ten Hag said: “It’s about the Busby Babes, it’s about the Class of 92, and we also are in this project to add another point of history too.”

Amass has played 19 games across all competitions this term and has one goal and three assists.

Whilst this will be his first inclusion in a first-team squad at United, he was on the bench for Watford’s third-round tie with Reading in January last year when he was just 15.