Manchester City will host Manchester United on Sunday October 3 in what would be the first Manchester derby in the Premier League this season
Manchester United will face Manchester City this weekend away from home in the Premier League and down below are our predicted starting lineups, team news and predictions.
Man United are on a roll, having won their last four league matches against Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester City and Arsenal but the same can be said of Man City, who won their last league game 3-0 at Wolves before the international break.
Pep Guardiola’s side haven’t lost a game in all competitions this season so far and can boast of five wins and two draws from their opening seven league matches. United lost their opening two games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford but afterwards, they have won four league matches in a row, thanks to Erik ten Hag’s audacity to drop a few number of big names on the bench.
Manchester United could be without the likes of Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial in their squad when they face city rivals, Man City on Sunday.
Rashford and Martial didn’t train with the Man United squad on Wednesday, hence making them doubts for the Manchester derby. Maguire limped off during England’s 3-3 draw against Germany on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League and has been ruled out of the derby with a hamstring injury.
Maguire, who endured widespread criticism following his horrifying display against the Germans, wasn’t present in training on Wednesday as well. The 28-year-old will now focus on making himself available when Manchester United face Omonia next week Thursday in the Europa League.
Rashford’s absence would come as a huge blow to Erik ten Hag and the Manchester United fans, given his current form – scoring two goals and providing two assists in his last two games [Leicester City & Arsenal]. Plus, he’s been a regular starter under the Dutchman.
Erik ten Hag said of Rashford’s fitness level on Sep 14: ‘He is not available. It is still the [same] consequence after Arsenal. He has a muscle injury. I don’t think [he will be out] too long; we expect him back quite soon in the team.’
Manchester City defender John Stones suffered an injury during England’s 3-3 draw against Germany last weekend. Stones, who started at right-back during City’s 3-0 thumping over Wolves, is now a doubt for the Manchester derby. He currently has no return date.
Aymeric Laporte could make his return to action this weekend after missing all of Manchester City’s opening nine matches in all competitions with a knee injury. He remains a doubt but the likelihood of him facing United this weekend gives City fans something to hold on to.
New signing Kalvin Philips has been ruled out of the game as well with a shoulder injury. He has no return date, according to Premier Injuries.
On his fitness level, Pep Guardiola said on Sep 18: “I don’t know [how long he will be out], but in a good way, he can arrive for the World Cup. [The] doctors [say that] when you have three or four times [where] it’s out, the only solution is to have surgery.”
GK: Ederson
DF: Kyle-Walker, Akanji, Dias, Cancelo
MF: De Brunye, Rodri, Gundogan
FW: Foden, Haaland, B. Silva
GK: De Gea
DF: Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia
MF: Eriksen, McTominay, Fernandes
FW: Antony, Elanga, Sancho
Manchester United have scored at least one goal in their last four Premier League matches and the same can be said of Manchester City.
Both Manchester clubs are goal scoring teams and it would raise many eyebrows if the game ended without both United and City scoring at least one goal.
Pep Guardiola’s men are obviously the favourites to take all three points on Sunday for a reason. The Citizens haven’t lost a game this season so far in all competitions and will look to continue from where they left off when they host Manchester United. City won Wolves 3-0 before the international break.
Like in some paragraphs above, both Manchester clubs are goal scoring teams. United have scored 9 goals in their last six matches while City have at least scored one goal in 9 matches in all competitions.
Many tipsters would rather prefer to bet on this option, given both team’s attacking prowess.