Liverpool assistant boss Steve Clarke has admitted that the international break has not done his team any favours in their preparations for next weekend's visit of Manchester United.

The Scot revealed that players will return to their Melwood training facility on Thursday and Friday before they entertain the Premier League champions on Saturday.

Clarke is also concerned that their South American players, such as Luis Suarez and Lucas Leiva, will be fatigued from travelling back to England.

"We don't get the full group to work with until the day before the game, which is disappointing but you just have to deal with it," Clarke told the club's official website.

"It's not ideal because it (the game) comes on the back of an international break and we've only had five or six players left behind here at Melwood."

Liverpool are currently fifth in the Premier League table, while United are top on goal difference.