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Seven game-weeks is all we've had so far in the Premier League, yet there are quite a few players who are on the sidelines owing to injuries picked up either in training or the international break.
Some injuries are short-term whereas few of them are really bad. With the World Cup qualifiers, the players have had to travel long distances and the recuperation time between games has shortened, which takes a toll. Squad depth is key to success and some injuries may prove to be very costly.
Let's see why these 5 injuries could prove costly in title race:
#5 Sadio Mane
Player of the Month for August and Ballon d'Or nominee, Sadio Mane got off to a scintillating start to 2017/18 season. In Coutinho's absence, he was the reason behind Liverpool's good start to the season. However, he picked up an injury in the recent international duty with Senegal and will miss several weeks because of a hamstring problem.
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What will Liverpool miss in Mane's absence?
Mane scored 3 goals in his first 3 games and was behind every Liverpool attacking move. His blistering pace and dribbles were too hot for some of the well-drilled defences to handle. He missed 3 games because of suspension and his absence was highlighted when Liverpool struggled a lot in front of goal and could manage only 1 win in 3 games.
It was during his absence because of International duty, Liverpool's 2016/17 season fell apart as they went without a win in 5 league games.
Liverpool average 2.2 goals with Mane and 1.6 without him since last season and if he misses several weeks, Liverpool may find it very hard to match United and City.
#4 Benjamin Mendy
Monaco full-back Benjamin Mendy moved to Manchester City in summer for £52m, a world-record fee for a defender. He played a key part in Monaco's successful run to the Ligue 1 title last season with 5 assists and 13 clean sheets. The 23-year-old started well in England but his season was cut short by a ruptured cruciate knee ligament and is expected to be out of the 2017/18 season.
Why will Man City miss Mendy?
He put in 29 crosses in 4 games and was key to Manchester City's attacking play down the left flank. Manchester City are already without their captain Vincent Kompany and with Mendy injured, it will definitely expose City's defensive frailties as the season goes on. Manchester City doesn't have a cover in left-back position and Fabian Delph was made to play as a makeshift left-back.
#3 Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba returned to United as the costliest players in world football a year ago. Pogba was good last season and an ever-present figure in United's midfield with 5 goals and 4 assists in 30 appearances. He did his hamstring in a Champions League game against CSKA Moscow late September. Mourinho confirmed that Pogba is out until at least November and may need a surgery.
What will United miss in Pogba's absence?
He started this season brilliantly with 2 goals and 2 assist in just 4 games. It's not just his goals and assists that United need. Pogba is invaluable to United with his ability to convert defence into attack and his injury is a major setback for United.
In 4 games for United this season, Pogba has made 309 passes, 10 accurate long balls, 10 crosses and 100% tackle success. United's strength in midfield is good but Pogba certainly will be missed.
#2 N'Golo Kante
The 2015/16 Premier League title winner with Leicester moved to Chelsea for the 2016/17 and once again grabbed the Premier League winners medal. He was the best defensive midfielder for the past 2 season in English Premier League with an impressive 329 tackles, 254 interceptions, 106 clearances, and 670 recoveries.
However, he was forced off in the World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria with a hamstring problem and is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks.
What does Kante bring to the Chelsea midfield?
N'Golo Kante started all of Chelsea's games in 2017/18 and was an ever-present player in Chelsea's midfield. In just 7 games this season, he had made 385 passes, 12 accurate long balls, 16 interceptions and 27 tackles. Having sold Matic and with Drinkwater injured, Kante is their midfield linchpin and the key to balancing the attacking and defensive play.
#1 Alvaro Morata
After the Diego Costa saga, Conte desperately needed a striker and bought Alvaro Morata from Real for a whopping £70 million. He got off to a promising start, scoring 6 times in the league. Morata, however, pulled his hamstring and Conte was told to prepare for life without the Spaniard for a few weeks.
Here is why Morata's absence will hurt Chelsea
In a season where they have fewer shots on goal than Newcastle and Stoke City, Morata is the one involved in creating 75% of the clear-cut chances. He started the Chelsea comeback after the demoralising Burney defeat on opening day and was the architect behind the comeback win against Atletico Madrid.
He is the target man that Conte system relies on at the moment. With Chelsea playing 7 games in next 23 days, Morata's absence will put a dent in their title race.
