The Matheus Cunha injury situation has become the most-watched subplot heading into one of English football’s most electrically charged fixtures. As Manchester United prepare to host Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday, manager Michael Carrick has offered cautious optimism that the Brazilian forward could be available. Cunha’s return would significantly lift United’s attacking options at a pivotal moment in their season.
Cunha has been absent since limping off with a hip flexor complaint that ruled him out of United’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday. The win kept United on course for a top-five Premier League finish, but doing it without their most dangerous attacker underlined just how much his presence is missed. Now, with a showdown against Liverpool looming, the question gripping Old Trafford is simple: will he be fit in time?
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Matheus Cunha Injury: What Carrick Said
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Carrick struck a measured but hopeful tone when asked directly about the Matheus Cunha injury update.
“Matheus has done a little bit of work, so we are hopeful,” the United boss said, stopping short of any guarantee but clearly encouraged by what he had seen on the training pitch.
Cunha returning to light training — even in a limited capacity — is a meaningful step forward. Hip flexor injuries, while notoriously tricky, can sometimes resolve quickly with the right recovery window, and the six days between the Brentford match and the Liverpool fixture may have given him just enough time to edge toward fitness. A final call is expected closer to kickoff, but the mood inside Carrington appears quietly confident.
On Luke Shaw, Carrick acknowledged uncertainty, saying, “We aren’t sure if he will be ready but we are hopeful.”
Matthijs de Ligt was ruled out entirely.
“He is still a little bit further, he won’t be involved in the game,” Carrick confirmed.
With those caveats noted, he still described his squad as being “in good shape really” — a welcome statement for supporters eager to field their strongest possible eleven.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
United arrive at this fixture in a commanding position — third in the Premier League table with 61 points from 34 games. Just two more points will mathematically secure a top-five finish and a return to Champions League football, something that felt unthinkable during the turbulent early months of the season under Ruben Amorim.
Liverpool, meanwhile, sit fourth — three points behind United and level on points with fifth-placed Aston Villa. For Arne Slot’s side, this trip to Old Trafford is not just a rivalry occasion; it carries serious implications for their own European ambitions. Both clubs know that a slip here could be costly.
That pressure, of course, only adds to the theatre. And Carrick, a man who played in many editions of this fixture during his illustrious United career, understands its weight better than most.
“It’s certainly always been one of my favourite games, without a doubt. It is a standout game,” he said. “Because of the history, the ups and downs, the entertainment and the emotion — all of those things make it a really special game.”
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Mainoo Shines as United’s Engine Room
While the Matheus Cunha injury remains the headline concern, there has been nothing but good news surrounding Kobbie Mainoo. The academy graduate recently put pen to paper on a new five-year deal after finding himself marginalised under the previous regime, and his renaissance under Carrick has been one of the season’s standout stories.
Mainoo has started 12 of Carrick’s 13 league matches, and his manager could barely contain his admiration.
“He epitomises this football club,” Carrick said. “He is a young player who has come through the academy, is living and breathing the club, and has come through with real talent.”
For United fans who have watched Mainoo grow from academy prodigy to genuine Premier League force, seeing him anchor the midfield against Liverpool on Sunday will be a source of immense pride.
A Club Reborn, A Rivalry Renewed
Since taking over from Amorim midway through the campaign, Carrick has overseen a remarkable transformation in United’s fortunes. The players look fitter, more organised, and crucially — more confident.
“It shows the improvements of the group, we are getting stronger,” Carrick said, before cautioning that Sunday’s result will be its own story entirely. “The league position is what it is but Sunday’s a whole different ball game.”
He’s right. Whatever the table says, United vs Liverpool at Old Trafford never needs additional motivation. And if Matheus Cunha walks out to join the starting lineup on Sunday, the roof may just come off.
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