Wayne Rooney's Importance to Manchester United Illustrated by Liverpool Loss

Wayne Rooney cannot get back from injury fast enough.

Manchester United announced early on Sunday that Rooney had suffered a cut to his head in training.

The BBC reported the timeline for his return is about three weeks from now.

His absence was felt in a big way as United lost 1-0 to Liverpool. The result isn't all that shocking, given how well Liverpool have been in preseason and in their first two Premier League games. However, what was a bit surprising was how lackluster United were.

According to WhoScored, the Red Devils only got four shots on target—one fewer than the Reds—despite having 57 percent possession. It was a toothless performance from the club, and they couldn't create much of anything when it came to the final third. Even toward the end of the match when they really needed to throw men forward and take some chances, United didn't have any answers.

The result could have been a lot different if Rooney had been on the pitch. There's nothing the club could've done to get him out there, but the match just demonstrated why David Moyes was so keen to ensure Rooney wouldn't leave for Chelsea this summer.

Exactly why Shinji Kagawa wasn't picked is largely irrelevant. It wouldn't change the fact that Moyes only has two options when it comes to a player who can sit in behind the striker and provide that linkup play. He's also not afraid to track back and defend in his own half.

You'd be hard-pressed to find supporters who would take Kagawa over Rooney. The British forward is a different type of player to the Japanese midfielder. On his best day, Rooney's one of the best forwards in the world, capable of dropping deeper in midfield or staying in the box and playing as more of a poacher.

Robin van Persie is a world-class striker and one of the best players in the Premier League. Even he needs some help sometimes, and it was help he didn't get against Liverpool. The Dutchman was left on an island, failing to make any sort of impact on the match. In fact, he was probably the worst player on the pitch and almost got himself sent off.

This was the second match in a row where Manchester United looked very pedestrian. Only this time, they didn't have Rooney to be that security blanket who could provide a spark to the attack when all paths to goal have been blocked off, unlike the draw against Chelsea.

Although he couldn't help score against the Blues, Rooney could have helped to expose what was a weaker back four against Liverpool.

You don't want to panic too much. United aren't going to be falling out of the top four as a result of missing their star striker for a couple of matches. And it's only three weeks and not three months.

This could have title implications, though. Dropped points can make all the difference between first and second. Just ask United about that 2011-12 season.

The upcoming list of fixtures is a bit daunting as well. Crystal Palace should be an easy win. After that, it gets trickier. Bayer Leverkusen will be tougher opponents in the Champions League clash at Old Trafford. Then United head to the Etihad to face Manchester City.

Those matches are going to be that much more tricky for Moyes without one of his best players.