Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko limped out of Sunday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool at half-time, raising concerns over the Slovenian’s availability for the final three games of the Premier League season. Here is the full Benjamin Sesko injury update as of May 5, 2026.
What Happened Against Liverpool?
Sesko had one of his best halves in a United shirt against Liverpool, scoring the Red Devils’ second goal in controversial circumstances. VAR reviewed the goal for a potential handball but allowed it to stand due to insufficient evidence to overturn the decision. The strike took Sesko to 11 Premier League goals for the season — a strong return for a striker who took time to settle after joining from RB Leipzig last summer.
However, Sesko did not emerge for the second half. The reason became clear after the game — the 22-year-old had clashed with Ibrahima Konate and was sent crashing into the advertising hoardings at the side of the pitch, aggravating a shin problem he had been managing for several weeks.
Michael Carrick’s Injury Explanation
United manager Michael Carrick gave a clear account of the situation after the match. He told MUTV: “He got a bang on his shin when he fell down the side of the pitch. It’s something he’s been carrying for a while, so we’ve had to manage him a little, but he’s definitely had a bang in the same location.” Carrick also told Sky Sports: “He’s been dealing with a shin injury for a while, and it was exacerbated when he was shoved into the hoarding and down the slope.”
How Long Has Sesko Been Carrying the Injury?
The Benjamin Sesko injury update is not entirely new news. The striker has been managing a minor muscular and shin issue for several weeks. He had already been withdrawn from Slovenia’s international squad during the last break, choosing to remain in Manchester to recover and be fully fit for the run-in. Despite the problem, Sesko gutted it out and continued to contribute — scoring in the win over Brentford and then again against Liverpool before being forced off.
His absence from several recent starting line-ups makes more sense now. He has started only two of United’s last nine Premier League matches while still contributing five goals in that period — a remarkable return for a player not playing at full fitness.
Benjamin Sesko Return Date — Sunderland This Weekend?
The positive news is that the incident did not appear to be serious from the immediate assessment. Carrick did not suggest Sesko would face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and all indications point to the striker being in contention for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland. United have three Premier League fixtures remaining — Sunderland (away), Nottingham Forest (home), and Brighton (away) — and Carrick will be hoping to have Sesko available for at least some of them.
The fact that United have already sealed Champions League qualification following the Liverpool victory also takes some pressure off Sesko’s situation. There is no need to rush him back if the medical staff believe additional rest would benefit him ahead of a crucial summer and next season’s Champions League campaign.
Sesko’s Season in Review
Despite the injury concerns, Sesko’s first Premier League season has been a solid one. The £74 million signing from RB Leipzig started slowly — as many predicted for a young striker adapting to English football — but found his footing in the second half of the campaign. His 11 goals make him United’s joint-top scorer alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and his hold-up play and link-up work with the attacking trio around him has improved significantly under Carrick.
With a World Cup in the summer and Champions League football to look forward to next season, Sesko has every reason to approach his second year at Old Trafford with confidence.
De Ligt Injury Update
While all eyes are on Sesko, United are also monitoring the long-term absence of Matthijs de Ligt, who has now missed 23 matches with a lower back injury. De Ligt is back in training but Carrick confirmed last week that he would not be involved against Liverpool and is still some way from a return to first-team action. Whether he can feature in the final three games of the season remains to be seen.
Full Manchester United Injury Tracker — May 2026
| Player | Injury | Status | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Sesko | Shin (aggravated) | Doubt | Possibly vs Sunderland (Sat) |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Lower back | Out | Unknown — back in training |
We will bring you the latest Benjamin Sesko injury update as it develops ahead of Saturday’s match at Sunderland. Bookmark SoccerScoop for all Manchester United injury news throughout the final weeks of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
