The good news at Antonio Valencia 's and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson 's returns to the Manchester United squad against Liverpool this evening has been offset by the absences of Daley Blind and Ander Herrera .
Both players were not among the 18-man United squad which arrived at The Lowry Hotel on Thursday morning.
Blind has appeared more times than any other United player this season, having made 43 starts and one substitute appearance in an injury-free season. The last time Blind did not play for United was in the Manchester derby on October 25.
Louis van Gaal admitted earlier this month Blind was 'very tired' but, due to a paucity of options, could not rest him.
Blind's absence could see Marcos Rojo moved inside from left-back to centre-back. Rojo started all but two games last season in central defence, however Van Gaal belatedly conceded this season the Argentinian was better at full-back.
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Matteo Darmian could be restored to the starting line-up on the left, with Guillermo Varela remaining on the right. Alternatively, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson could make his first appearance in three weeks at left-back. The Flixton defender impressed at Anfield in January.
Michael Carrick, culpable for Roberto Firmino's goal at Anfield a week ago, played in central defence as recently as the Arsenal win and RoShaun Williams, 17, was only promoted to the first-team at the weekend but is another option in central defence.
Herrera's absence is particularly problematic. Productive against West Ham on Sunday, he is the most attack-minded of United's central midfield options and has benefited Morgan Schneiderlin, a signing who has taken time to find his feet.
With Bastian Schweinsteiger deemed not fit enough to start by Van Gaal on Wedensday, the alternatives are Carrick or Marouane Fellaini. For all Fellaini's faults, he is the greater goal threat and Carrick's axis with Schneiderlin has been incompatible this season.
Schneiderlin and Fellaini started to little effect against Liverpool last week and Van Gaal brought Carrick on at half-time since he lacked a conduit between the defence and the attack.
Herrera was not 100 per cent fit in the first leg, so there was an over-reliance on Blind to act as the back seven's distributor, with neither Schneiderlin nor Fellaini slick enough moving the ball forward (despite a combined cost of £52.5m). And with Blind absent and Chris Smalling an unreliable passer, Van Gaal might have to depend on Rojo.
However, Van Gaal has constantly turned to Carrick in an attempt to trigger an upturn in fortunes and that could be the case again tonight, albeit at Schneiderlin's expense, which would be unpopular among supporters.