Manchester City take on Manchester United as both teams look to move closer to their final ambitions for the season.
Pep Guardiola’s side are once again chasing the Premier League title and will look at three points that can keep them close to Liverpool ahead of their trip to Anfield next weekend. United, meanwhile, are trying to regain some momentum in the race for the top four after a damaging home defeat to Fulham.
City enter as heavy favourites for the clash, although this fixture has been an away victory more than a home one during Guardiola’s time in England. Here are some of the key battles on the pitch that could define the derby.
Silva has been one of the most influential players in the Manchester derby during his time at the club and is generally underrated for the many different roles that he performs in the team. He will again be asked to let his intelligence do the work on Sunday.
Diogo Dalot has cemented a regular place in the United side this season and has been one of their more reliable players. How well he is able to stem the left if Silva is lurking may well decide how easily City can get in behind United.
De Bruyne at the centre
Erling Haaland is the obvious one for United to watch but the midweek game in Luton showed how telepathic his relationship with Kevin De Bruyne is. Many City players are able to find Haaland in the box, although none can find him as often and as accurately as De Bruyne can.
Kobbie Mainoo has had an impressive start to his United career but the academy product faces a stiff test with him and Casemiro likely tasked with stopping the midfield creativity. Fellow Stockport youngster Foden may be part of that City midfield as well but De Bruyne is almost certain to play in the centre and look to find Haaland as often as possible from there.
Haaland will be hungry for more goals after racking up five in midweek, and his best chances of adding to it is if De Bruyne is able to get the better of the midfield battle.
Bruno Fernandes will likely put injury concerns behind him to once again turn out for United and he will again be their most central threat. He scored the controversial equaliser at Old Trafford last season and also the controversial penalty in the FA Cup Final.
Fernandes may well be pushed out to the right with Rasmus Hojlund injured, and there he should find Nathan Ake. The Dutch defender has been one of City’s most reliable players again this season but is part of a defence that keeps conceding goals.
That battle probably represents United’s best chance of hurting City. However, if Ake can keep a lid on Fernandes, it will point both to United’s inability to create but also the tightness to the City defence that should give them a solid platform from which to attack the United defence.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City will be going in search of a fourth successive win in all competitions when they face neighbours Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
City, who won the reverse meeting 3-0 at Old Trafford in October, progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in style in midweek, hammering Luton Town 6-2 at Kenilworth Road. Erling Haaland scored five to ensure the Blues will head into the derby with the bit between their teeth.
As Liverpool switched focus to the Carabao Cup final last weekend, City moved to within one point of the Premier League summit with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. However, that gap will increase to four points if Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a little under 24 hours before the derby.
City manager Pep Guardiola, with the exception of Jack Grealish, who was forced off against Luton, has a full-strength squad to choose from, meaning he will face plenty of selection dilemmas when settling on his starting XI, particularly in attack.
Ederson is expected to return in goal after making way for Stefan Ortega against Luton. The former has started all but one of City’s 26 Premier League matches this season.
In front of the Brazilian, Guardiola might consider just one change to the back four that started in Bedfordshire, handing a recall to Ruben Dias. He could come straight back into the XI at centre-back, replacing Manuel Akanji, to partner John Stones. Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are highly likely to occupy the full-back spots.
Rodri is highly likely to return to the base of the midfield after being granted a rare breather in midweek. The Spaniard has started every Premier League game he has been available for this term.
Kevin De Bruyne will almost certainly line-up in midfield alongside him, fresh from providing four assists against Luton. Mateo Kovacic could occupy the final midfield slot in Guardiola’s trademark three-man system and offer City an extra sense of control. The Croatian has started each of the last two matches and was on the scoresheet against Luton. He has rarely started back-to-back league games in the last few months.
As for the forward line, there is no point in debating who will lead the attack with Haaland a guaranteed starter after his five-goal haul in midweek. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are likely to support him from the wide areas.
Predicted line up (4-3-3)
Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernado, Haland and Foden
Man United
Manchester United are set to be without eight first-team stars for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.
Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane and Casemiro were all doubts for Wednesday’s narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, and Erik ten Hag expects to trio to face the Premier League champions.
But the likes of Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Aaron Wan-Bissaka will all remain on the sidelines for United’s toughest trip of the season.
Ten Hag told reporters: “[Varane and Fernandes] fought to be a part [against Forest] and they came well out of the game. I think they will be available for Sunday. I don’t think players will return for Sunday.”
It leaves Ten Hag with limited options in both defence and midfield. Sofyan Amrabat started at left-back after Forest, with Victor Lindelof lining up at centre-back. Jonny Evans could come in.
In midfield, Christian Eriksen could start while Scott McTominay will be pushing to get the nod ahead of impressive youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Eriksen, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford
Credit: The Standard, Manchester Evening News
