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Michael Carrick has declared his Manchester United squad is in "good shape" ahead of Sunday's match against an injury-hit Liverpool side.
United have the opportunity to secure their first Premier League double over their fierce rivals in ten years when the two clubs meet at Old Trafford this weekend.
Carrick, the man largely credited with reviving United's faltering season, cannot claim any involvement in Man Utd's memorable win at Anfield last October, as Ruben Amorim guided the Red Devils to their first victory on the red side of Merseyside since 2016.
Consecutive victories following a home defeat to Leeds United have placed Carrick's men on the verge of Champions League qualification, and they head into the weekend's derby with an encouraging injury update.
However, the hosts, who sit three points above their upcoming opponents, are not entirely free of fitness concerns. There are some issues to contend with, and here is a rundown of the players United may be missing for Liverpool's visit.
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw's career has been blighted by injury problems ever since he suffered a devastating double leg fracture in his second campaign at Old Trafford a decade ago. Despite this, the full-back has established himself as a key figure in the Man Utd setup this season. Remarkably, no player has logged more minutes for the Red Devils than Shaw, who has featured in every Premier League fixture from the start.
There have been minor setbacks along the way, but nothing serious enough to keep him out for any extended period.
The muscle problem he sustained against Brentford, however, could rule him out of the upcoming match. Carrick offered little clarity after Shaw was substituted in the second half of Monday night's victory, and his tone on Friday was far from reassuring.
"With Luke [Shaw], we aren't sure if he will be ready, but we are hopeful," the Man Utd boss said.
Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha has had a solid first season in Manchester, contributing 10 Premier League goal involvements, including a pair of crucial match-winning efforts against Chelsea and Arsenal.
He has largely operated on the left flank with the freedom to cut inside. However, his absence on Monday night came as a surprise, with Carrick revealing the Brazilian had been dealing with a hip flexor problem.
The concern was not considered serious at the time, and Cunha stands a good chance of being available immediately. "Matheus [Cunha] has done a little bit of work, so we are hopeful," Carrick said ahead of Sunday's game.
Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt has not featured since Amorim's exit, with his last appearance for the Red Devils coming in late November.
The Dutch centre-back is managing a back complaint, and there is no clear timeline for his return. His World Cup prospects have been thrown into serious jeopardy as a result, with Ronald Koeman having plenty of fit alternatives at his disposal, making De Ligt's selection unlikely after such a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
He is reported to be continuing his rehabilitation at Carrington, though it would not be entirely surprising if he fails to make another appearance this season.
Lisandro Martínez
It is confirmed that Lisandro Martínez will not be available this weekend. The Argentine had forged a solid partnership with Harry Maguire at the heart of defence under Carrick, but a combination of injury and suspension has meant Martínez has barely featured over the last couple of months.
The former Ajax centre-back was controversially sent off for an alleged hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin during United's 2–1 loss to Leeds last month. As the offence was classified as "violent conduct," Martínez received a three-match ban.
He is serving the final game of that suspension this weekend, and is expected to return to the starting lineup next week at Sunderland.