Preview: Manchester United vs. Manchester City – prediction, team news, lineups
On Saturday lunchtime, Manchester United will face fierce rivals Manchester City in the 189th Manchester derby at Old Trafford in an exciting Premier League showdown.
The Red Devils will be out for vengeance after falling to the Citizens 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium in October.
MATCH PREVIEW
United’s most recent success came in the EFL Cup, where they advanced to the semi-finals with a 3-0 home win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night, with goals from in-form attacker Marcus Rashford (2) and summer signing Antony.
Ten Hag has now won 20 of his first 27 competitive matches as manager of the Red Devils, the fewest games of any manager in the club’s history.
The Dutchman appears to have restored faith at the Theatre of Dreams after overseeing a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, with domestic cup glory and a top-four finish in the Premier League now firmly in their sights this season.
Man United, who are currently fourth in the Premier League table and tied for third on points with Newcastle United, have accumulated more points (35) than any other team since and including their 2-1 victory over Liverpool on August 22, winning 11 of their 15 matches during this period.
However, their hot streak will be put to the test by reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, who have won the last three Manchester derbies by an aggregate score of 12-4.
In addition, the Red Devils have lost more Premier League home games against the Citizens (eight) than any other opponent.
Man United’s overall form and recent run at Old Trafford, on the other hand, bodes well for Saturday’s game, as they have won nine consecutive home games and kept seven clean sheets in the process.
A win for Ten Hag and co would move them within one point of City in second place and six points behind leaders Arsenal, who play United next weekend after Sunday’s North London derby.
With 20 league games remaining, audacious talk of a potential title charge for the Red Devils may soon come to the fore if their current form continues.
The Citizens, on the other hand, were deservedly defeated 2-0 by the Saints and failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in 275 matches since a 3-0 Champions League loss to Liverpool in April 2018. Pep Guardiola also suffered his first-ever domestic cup quarter-final exit, snapping a 15-game winning streak at this stage.
Guardiola will be keen for his side to bounce back in what will be his 500th top-flight game as a coach on Saturday – his 246th in charge of Man City – as they bid to close the five-point gap that currently separates them from Arsenal at the Premier League summit.
The reigning Premier League champions have seen their previously unrivaled standards slip slightly in recent months, dropping eight points in as many league games, while also failing to score in four of their last seven away games in all competitions.
Guardiola’s team, on the other hand, will relish a derby-day trip to Manchester United, having won nine of their last 14 visits to Old Trafford in all tournaments since, including their iconic 6-1 league victory in October 2011.
A record 19th Premier League victory over the Red Devils this weekend would be an ideal way for City to regain momentum ahead of a challenging fixture schedule that includes two games each against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. It would also complete a record sixth top-flight double over their bitter rivals.
City could break their own club record for most goals scored against United in a single season (eight goals in 1954-55) if they find the net at least three times on Saturday, after scoring six against Ten Hag’s side at the Etihad three months ago, courtesy of memorable hat-tricks by Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden.
Manchester United Premier League form:
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
TEAM NEWS
Ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot is “not available” for Saturday’s derby due to a hamstring injury, while Donny van de Beek is out for the season with a serious knee injury.
Axel Tuanzebe is also out with an injury.
Jadon Sancho is unlikely to play as he continues his individual fitness program, but the Red Devils can welcome back Bruno Fernandes, who was suspended in the win over Charlton, and the playmaker is expected to join Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield.
Rashford, who has scored in all six of United’s games since the World Cup break, is set to return to the starting lineup alongside Raphael Varane, who was rested in midweek, and Luke Shaw, with Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire, and Tyrell Malacia all set to drop to the bench.
On Friday evening, United confirmed the loan signing of Burnley striker Wout Weghorst, but the Dutchman will not play on Saturday; Anthony Martial is therefore expected to lead the line from the start, assuming he passes a late fitness test.
Guardiola has confirmed that John Stones is “not ready” to return to Man City after missing the Southampton defeat due to fitness issues, while “everyone else is fit,” meaning Ruben Dias could return to the matchday squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury at the World Cup.
Kyle Walker started as a central defender in midweek, but he will almost certainly return to right-back on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake all vying for a starting spot at center-back. However, Ake may be preferred to start at left-back over Joao Cancelo and Sergio Gomez.
Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are expected to return to center midfield, with Cole Palmer and Kalvin Phillips dropping out, while Haaland – the top-scoring player in Europe’s top five leagues with 21 goals – will return to his central role up front.
Riyad Mahrez has scored nine goals from the bench under Guardiola, the most of any substitute in the Spaniard’s entire managerial top-flight career, but the in-form Algerian could be recalled to the starting XI on Saturday after a midweek rest, with either Foden, Jack Grealish, or Julian Alvarez completing the front three.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish
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