A HUGE derby awaits in Manchester as City and United go head-to-head in a colossal Premier League clash at the Etihad this afternoon.
And the headline team news is that Marcus Rashford has been left out of the Man Utd squad.
The Red Devils will be looking to pounce on their local rivals, with Pep Guardiola’s side claiming just one win from their last 10 games in all competitions.
But United don’t exactly go into today’s blockbuster clash in scintillating form after back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
That said, new boss Ruben Amorim has got the better of Guardiola once already this season, with his Sporting side smashing City 4-1 in the Champions League back in November.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm GMT
- Stream/TV: NOW/Sky Sports Main Event
- Man City team: Ederson, Dias, Walker, Gvardiol, Bernardo, Nunes, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden, Doku, Haaland
- Man Utd team: Onana, Maguire, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Amad, Mount, Hojlund
Follow all the action with our live blog below…
Arrivals
Man Utd players were earlier spotted walking through the tunnels under the Etihad Stadium as we continue to build towards the big one,
‘I could see anything’
Former Man Utd star Phil Jones has no clue how the game is going to go today, with both teams struggling for form and consistency.
Jones told 5 Live: “Manchester United played a big part in my life and I obviously want them to do well.
” I am a bit more nervous watching them than being able to do anything on the pitch.
I could see anything today, I really could. It could see a 0-0. I could see a 4-0 to City. I could see a 4-0 to United.
“I don’t think anyone can anticipate what is going to happen today!”
Credit: Getty More from Amorim
The Portuguese boss continued: “Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now.
“I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything.
“I make my evaluation and then I decide.
“There is a communication after the last training. They are alright.
“They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.”
Credit: Getty
Man Utd mole?
Ruben Amorim’s starting XI was leaked earlier on Sunday with the starting line-up matching the exact team that was reported.
Amorim has now spoken on Sky Sports to explain his decisions, with both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho missing out.
He said: “We try to evaluate everything – training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, [how they] push their team-mates up.
“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.
“I don’t want to send a message, it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart.
“Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is [a] simple selection.”
Countdown is on
We’re just 45 minutes from kick off here and the Etihad is starting to fill up very nicely…
Expect goals
Recent meetings between the two suggest this afternoon’s Manchester derby is going to be FULL of goals…touch wood.
A whopping 24 goals have been scored in the last five Prem meetings between the two bitter rivals.
Here is a look at the last five Manchester derbies that have taken place in the league:
- Man City 3-1 Man Utd (March, 2024)
- Man Utd 0-3 Man City (October, 2023)
- Man Utd 2-1 Man City (January, 2023)
- Man City 6-3 Man Utd (October, 2022)
- Man City 4-1 Man Utd (March, 2022)
Fernandes on the task ahead
Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes says the Red Devils must focus on fixing their own problems rather than thinking about Man City’s torrid run of form.
The Portugese playmaker said: “It doesn’t change anything for us, how they are in this moment, because we have to think about ourselves,” the United skipper said.
“We all know that this is a huge game and they have huge players. They’re probably not winning as much as everyone would expect them to do.
“But we have to focus on ourselves because we’re not being at the level we want to be, so we can’t think about the momentum of the others.
“We just have to think about ourselves and do the job we have to do to get in better positions, and we need points in the league so it doesn’t matter who we play against.
“We know it’s City, a huge derby. We know what it means for the fans and it means a lot for us too, so we just have to go to the game and win without thinking who we have ahead.”
Goal Haal
Erling Haaland may not be in the best form of late, but you certainly can not count him out of today’s Manchester derby.
Last season’s Golden Boot winner has just three goals from his last 10 Premier League games, which, by his high standards, is far from his best.
But Haaland does enjoy scoring against Man Utd – the Norweigan has bagged six goals in four league appearances against the Red Devils.
Man Utd XI
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Dalout, Ugarte, Mount, Fernandes, Adam, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Malacia, Yoro, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mainoo, Antony, Zirkzee.
Man City XI
Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savinho, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O’Reilly, McAtee
Man Utd team news
Ruben Amorim has no fresh injury concerns following United’s 2-1 win against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday night.
Jonny Evans returned to training this week and may come into the Red Devil’s back three.
Left-back Luke Shaw remains sidelined.
Man City team news
Academy graduate Rico Lewis will be unavailable for the Manchester derby after he was sent off against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic returned to the matchday squad against Juventus on Wednesday night – and both could be handed a starting place this afternoon.
Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji are all unavailable to face United.
Credit: Getty Good afternoon and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of the Manchester derby!
Today’s blockbuster match will see bitter rivals Manchester City and Manchester United go head-to-head at the Etihad.
The Red Devils will be looking to pounce on City’s unprecedented poor form of late, with Pep Guardiola’s side claiming just one win from their last 10 games in all competitions.
The champions find themselves NINE points behind leaders Liverpool, but they will be aiming to take all three points this evening to close the gap to six after the Reds were held to a 2-2 draw with Fulham yesterday.
United are also not in the best of form at the minute after back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
The Red Devils were almost embarrassed in the Europa League on Thursday night after Viktoria Plzen took a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford following another defensive error.
But Rasmus Hojlund’s double spared United’s blushes as they look to build some momentum under new boss Ruben Amorim.
The young Portugese coach has already got the better of Pep Guardiola this season, with his Sporting side smashing City 4-1 in the Champions League back in November.
Amorim will be hoping his new side can follow suit as he gets his first taste of the Manchester derby this afternoon.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
