Liverpool set for triple blow that hands Manchester United an early Premier League title race advantage

Liverpool could be without Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker when they face Manchester United due to a new FIFA ruling.

In September and October, the Premier League will take a break for players to go on international duty and it could hand Man Utd a major advantage.

The Reds are set to play their rivals in October after the international break and the Daily Mail reports that while FIFA is in talks with federations, it's likely Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson will miss the game.

This is because the players may be forced to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel after returning from Brazil which is a 'red list' country.

If Liverpool are forced to play United without Fabinho, Alisson and Firmino, it could seriously cripple their chances of beating a team that looks like they mean business this season.

Manchester United obliterated Leeds United 5-1 when they visited Old Trafford on Saturday and while the Peacocks' style of play perfectly suited the way the Red Devils set out to play, it looks as though they will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Fortunately, there's quite some time between now and then for Liverpool to figure out a contingency plan and hopefully, FIFA can work something out with the Brazil FA because Alisson, Fabinho and Firmino are literally the spine of the Reds' team.

Take them out, and you rip you out the centre of the Reds team.

Of course, Diogo Jota is a ready deputy for Bobby but there's nobody at the club like Fabinho and there's certainly no replacing Alisson even if Caoimhin Kelleher has shown he's an able deputy.

Liverpool got their season off to a great start with a 3-0 win over Norwich City in which Roberto Firmino scored.

Alisson had virtually nothing to do before he made a triple save to preserve his clean sheet while Fabinho came on in the second half to get some more minutes in the tank and he was predictably solid.