Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has chosen to remain tight lipped about team news ahead of the big clash against Liverpool on Sunday.
Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed the League Cup semi-final game against Hull City due to illness, while Marcos Rojo suffered a muscle injury during Manchester United’s previous game against Reading in the FA Cup.
Mourinho was questioned about the availability of the duo during the pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester United’s game against Liverpool, and the Portuguese stated that he ‘thinks’ they may be available.
“I think they are available,” he said, according to the official club website.
“I cannot confirm with 48 hours to the match but I think so.”
The Manchester United manager may not want to rush Rojo back into the thick of things too quickly. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have been playing well together in central defence in the absence of the Argentine, and will probably retain their starting spots.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another matter though, as the Swede striker will be looking to put his own unique stamp on the historic fixture that is the North-West derby. Barring any unforeseen development, Zlatan should be the first name on the team sheet this Sunday.
The big Swede will need some good service though, and he will be relying mostly on French midfielder Paul Pogba to set him up for the spectacular. The two wingers, whoever Mourinho ends up choosing, will also look to link up with the more centrally located duo.
Anthony Martial looks likely to start at left-wing, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan takes up the spot on the right wing. These are two positions where Mourinho likes to mix it up though, and the likes of Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata could also get a look in.
The attacking quartet will be complemented by the two attacking full-backs at United, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian. Both have shown some brilliance on the wings despite playing out of their natural positions, and are almost guaranteed starters alongside Jones and Smalling in defence.
In David de Gea, Manchester United have a reliable custodian in goal, and indeed one of the best players in the world right now.
