MANCHESTER CITY welcome Man Utd to the Etihad looking to extend their Premier League lead to a whopping eighteen points.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: Sky Go/NOW TV
- Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus.
- Man Utd XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, McTominay, Fred, James, Rashford, Martial.
Follow all the build-up with our live blog below….
Kevin de Bruyne to get ONE assists at huge 60/1 price
MADE FOR MARTIAL
There were doubts over Anthony Martial’s fitness in the build-up to today’s game but – with Edinson Cavani ruled out through a knock he picked up in training – the return of the forward could not have been timed better.
The Frenchman hasn’t been in the best form lately, but has made a habit of saving his best for the short trip to the Etihad Stadium. Martial has scored in the Premier League away games at City in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Only Wayne Rooney (4) and Eric Cantona (3) have scored in more away Manchester derbies for the Red Devils in the Premier League era with only Cantona doing so in three consecutive appearances.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES
13 Grant, 3 Bailly, 11 Greenwood, 19 Diallo, 27 Telles, 31 Matic, 33 Williams, 38 Tuanzebe, 74 Shoretire
MANCHESTER UNITED XI
It’s four changes for Manchester United after the bore draw at Crystal Palace. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rotates Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly again with the former starting alongside Harry Maguire this afternoon. In midfield, Scott McTominay replaces Nemanja Matic while Dan James gets the nod over Mason Greenwood on the right. Up front, Anthony Martial has won his battle with a knee problem and starts at the top of a 4-2-3-1 in place of the absent Edinson Cavani.
26 Henderson; 29 Wan-Bissaka, 2 Lindelof, 5 Maguire, 23 Shaw; 39 McTominay, 17 Fred; 21 James, 18 Fernandes, 10 Rashford; 9 Martial
MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES
13 Steffen, 2 Walker, 10 Aguero, 14 Laporte, 20 Silva, 21 Torres, 22 Mendy, 25 Fernandinho, 47 Foden
MANCHESTER CITY XI
Pep Guardiola makes three changes to the team that clocked up a 21st straight win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek. Oleksandr Zinchenko and John Stones return to the defence with Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte dropping to the bench; Zinchenko’s inclusion at left-back sees Joao Cancelo shift over to the right. In midfielder, Bernardo Silva misses out to allow for Ilkay Gundogan spot in the starting XI. Gabriel Jesus continues in the striker’s role so there’s no false nine this afternoon in City’s 4-3-3 formation.
31 Ederson; 27 Cancelo, 3 Dias, 5 Stones, 11 Zinchenko; 8 Gundogan, 16 Rodrigo, 17 De Bruyne; 26 Mahrez, 9 Jesus, 7 Sterling
THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!
CITY SLICKERS
Manchester City are unbeaten in 28 games in all competitions since losing 2-0 at Tottenham in November. If they avoid defeat today, they will set a new club record for games without defeat.
The Citizens have also won each of their last 21 matches, the third ever longest run in all competitions among teams in the big five European leagues.
CLEAN SHEET CITY
Manchester City have twice kept Bruno Fernandes and company at bay in their derby matches this campaign, keeping clean sheets in the goalless draw at Old Trafford in the Premier League back in December as well as their 2-0 EFL Cup success earlier this year.
The last team to record three shutouts against the Red Devils within a single season was Arsenal in 1998-99 when they faced their old rivals on five separate occasions.
BITTTER NIL-NILS TO SWALLOW
Manchester United’s last three matches have been tough viewing for their fans, and an ever harder watch for the neutral – not to mention us live bloggers.
The Red Devils have served up dreary goalless draws with Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the Premier League, while the second leg of their Round of 32 tie with Real Sociedad in the Europa League also finished 0-0.
United have never registered four goalless draws in succession, while the last Premier League club to do so was Tottenham all the way back in February 2001.
WELCOME TO MANCHESTER
We’re at the Etihad Stadium for SunSport’s live coverage of Manchester City versus Manchester United in the Premier League.
It’s blue against red. It’s first against third. It’s the winning streak against the unbeaten run on the road.
A month ago, this fixture had all the makings of a title showdown, but such has been City’s dominance in 2021 that even a United success this afternoon is unlikely to stop Pep Guardiola’s men lifting the trophy come May.
However, a third successive derby win at the home of their rivals will ensure temporary bragging rights for the Red Devils, extend their record undefeated away run, and propel them back up to second in their pursuit of Champions League football.
David de Gea is absent again as he awaits the birth of his child in Spain, so Dean Henderson is likely to start back-to-back league games in the United goal for the first time.
There is also a doubt over Anthony Martial’s involvement as the forward battles with a knee problem, but the better news for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is that Paul Pogba is back in contention.
City have clocked up a sensational 21 straight wins in all competitions – already an English record – and a 22nd against their near neighbours would not only be the sweetest of the lot, but would move them 15 points clear at the summit.
Even more worrying for the rest of the Premier League is the realisation that Guardiola’s squad is now at full strength for the first time this season following the recent returns of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Nathan Ake.
We’ll have confirmation of today’s teams shortly before the Manchester derby gets underway at 4.30pm.
Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer go head-to-head in the Manchester derby.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
