This is the big one!
Sunday brings the first league Manchester derby of the season. United will hope to shake off back-to-back Premier League defeats against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal with a win against their cross-city rivals.
Let’s face it, we were completely written off from having any chance of winning the FA Cup final before a ball was even kicked last season, but look what happened. This fixture tends to do that. It is often unpredictable and has the tendency to throw form out the window.
United will aim to take full advantage of Manchester City’s recent woes; City have looked a shadow of their previous seasons in recent weeks. Pep Guardiola’s side has won just one game in their last ten games. Despite their poor form City still sit eight points above The Reds in fourth, occupying the final Champions League spot. However the Citizens are currently eight points off league leaders Liverpool.
The Etihad has been a difficult destination for United in recent years with the last successful visit in December 2019 when a penalty converted by Marcus Rashford and a clinical finish from Anthony Martial saw Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side take three points.
Midweek reflection
City’s poor form has spilled over into their Champions league campaign; they currently sit 22nd in the new format having lost to Juventus on Tuesday night and Sporting Lisbon last month. Ruben Amorim’s tactics have already faced Guardiola’s this season with the Portuguese claiming a landslide 4-1 victory over the Spaniard.
United on the other hand were saved on Thursday after a Rasmus Hojlund double sparked a comeback in the Czech Republic. We beat Victoria Plzen in the Europa League to catapult us into a comfortable seventh, just four points off top spot.
United have recovered well from their opening three games under Erik Ten Hag, which were all drawn from winning positions. From the dismissal of the Dutchman, Ruud Van Nistelrooy led us to victory against PAOK and Amorim became only the third manager in our history to win his first two European games in charge.
Manchester United Team News
United seem full-strength ahead of the derby; we have adapted to life without Luke Shaw and accepted that his fitness is a surrounding issue, so his long-term injury crisis does not affect the team that much. Jonny Evans has returned to training, but probably won’t feature as our cebtre back position is fairly stacked, following the return of Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof.
Manchester City Team News
Meanwhile, City have quite a few absences. Ballon D’or winner Rodri has been out since early in the season after suffering a ruptured ACL.
Defence looks an issue for City too, with Rico Lewis ruled out. Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and John Stones are doubtful.
Predicted XI
Onana ;
Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez;
Amad, Ugarte, Mainoo, Malacia;
Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho.
Form Guide
Manchester United All Competitions Form:
W W L LW
Manchester United Premier League Form:
W D W L L
Manchester City All Competitions Form:
D L W D L
Manchester City League Form:
L L L W D
Prediction
Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 tactical approach has come up against this City side so far this season for his Sporting Lisbon swansong and Amorim came out on top 4-1. Although incredibly early into his tenure at United, there would be no better statement than getting one over on our bitter rivals, especially while they are down. I expect City’s recent form to play a psychological part in their mentality going into this game as it has in recent weeks, City are on the ropes, and we need to use this to our advantage. The reigning champions have more to lose in this fixture and I think this will play a part in the result. Rasmus Hojlund seems to have found himself in a bit of form recently when he has been given a chance, so I fully expect him to score.
Predicted score: Manchester City 1 – 2 Manchester United