Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick are set to miss Manchester United's trip to Liverpool but Adnan Januzaj could make a first appearance for Louis van Gaal's side since August.
Midfielder Schweinsteiger suffered a knee injury in the 1-0 win over Sheffield United last week and manager Van Gaal believes the World Cup winner is unlikely to recover in time to play at Anfield on Sunday.
And vice-captain Carrick, who has not featured in United's last two games, is absent again, with Van Gaal confirming the 34-year-old is sidelined.
"I think we have the same injuries as before, maybe Schweinsteiger is coming back but that is not sure," he told MUTV.
"It is very tight to regain [full fitness], I think. He needs more time, I think. Carrick is also injured. We have forgotten to mention it but he was injured. He is still injured so he cannot play either."
It means Marouane Fellaini is likely to carry on alongside Morgan Schneiderlin in the centre of the United midfield.
Centre-back Phil Jones is still not fit enough to return, so Daley Blind is likely to partner Chris Smalling again, while Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw are long-term absentees.
But Belgium international Januzaj could be a substitute after his loan spell with Borussia Dortmund was terminated by mutual consent.
The 20-year-old did not start a single Bundesliga game during his time in Germany and, although United shelved plans to field him in their under-21 team against Reading on Monday, Van Gaal is considering picking him in the matchday 18.
"We have taken a risk and we have built him up in our way of training sessions," he added. "Now he can be on the bench or he shall play in the second team [under-21s]."
Januzaj's previous game for United was the 4-0 win over Club Brugge in August.