Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful Manchester United players will return from injury for the visit of Liverpool and confirmed David de Gea's injury is not as bad as first feared.
De Gea came off in Spain's European qualifier with Sweden on Tuesday with a muscle abductor injury and Solskjaer has all but confirmed he is out for the Liverpool match on Sunday.
United have suffered a spate of muscle injuries this season and Anthony Martial has been sidelined for the last eight weeks with a thigh injury. Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw (both hamstring) are doubts for the Liverpool match but Aaron Wan-Bissaka could return from illness.
"Of course I would like to tell you positive news," Solskjaer said. "Hopefully we'll see on Sunday who's come through the last two sessions as well. Because there are players here that just started training, just on the verge of coming back or not, so I can't really say.
"I don't expect [De Gea] to play but it wasn't as bad as feared. When I saw the game I thought that's him out until next international break because we've had some long-term muscle injuries but it's not as bad as feared."
Former United manager David Moyes billed as Liverpool as favourites before their last win at United in March 2014 and was widely pilloried for his underdog mentality. The same question was put to Solskjaer.
"They're doing well in the league," Solskjaer added. "That's for sure, but we're looking forward to this game, it's perfect game for our players and our fans, because we've had a tough time, a difficult time lately and I'm sure we'll give them a good game."
Solskjaer has won a game more than Jurgen Klopp did in his first 29 Premier League matches in charge of Liverpool but is not clinging onto such a positive spin. "No, I don't hold onto stats like this. And just working as planned, business as usual, we try to improve the team, we're trying to work towards something.
"But, of course, we're heading somewhere we feel but need results. And I expect the players to come out and prove why they're at Man United."
