Who makes it?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Bruno Fernandes and Fred are two of the players who could be sidelined today and the other is likely to be Marcus Rashford, forced off with a dead leg against Atalanta.
All three would have to start if fit and there might be some kidology going on. David de Gea was ruled out of Liverpool's visit two years ago and then checked in at The Lowry the evening before kick-off.
Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to fall for any of it but if United's injury issues are genuine and if the aforementioned trio are all unavailable then that would be damaging to United's chances.
Potential changes?
If Fernandes is out then Jesse Lingard has to come in. If Fred is out then Nemanja Matic is set to come in. There is not an obvious replacement for Rashford as Paul Pogba has gone off the boil, Jadon Sancho is yet to get going and Anthony Martial has just recovered from injury.
One of the reasons Solskjaer resisted a half-time change in midweek is he is possibly banking on the same XI to get a result against Liverpool. Any changes that are made may only be enforced.
Defensive issues
Solskjaer can make changes to his back four and yet he can't. There is little logic in recalling Eric Bailly for his first Premier League or Champions League appearance of the season and the back-up full-backs are squad filler.
So Solskjaer is probably going to have to continue with the same defence that has shipped six goals in the last two games. David de Gea has still been United's standout performer in both of them.
Salah crowded out?
Mohamed Salah broke his Old Trafford duck last season, scoring twice in the FA Cup fourth round tie and again in the league meeting. He is yet to get off the mark at United with a crowd present and he was substituted in the dreary draw in February 2019. The season before that, Ashley Young pocketed Salah and United have fared better than most at containing the Egyptian.
Salah has 12 goals in 11 games this season and only failed to score in one of them. It will take some going from the home supporters to deter him.
Ronaldo vs Van Dijk
Today pits the game's greatest goalscorer against arguably the game's best centre-back. Virgil van Dijk has prevented Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring in their last two duels for club and country and Liverpool have kept five Premier League clean sheets in eight.
Ronaldo only netted twice against Liverpool in his first spell with United and his most memorable strike against them was a half-volley for Real Madrid in 2014. How he fares against United's first 'elite' opponents this season is certain to be scrutinised.
