The upcoming 191st Manchester Derby promises an electrifying clash at the Etihad on Sunday evening, featuring fierce rivals Manchester City and Manchester United in a highly anticipated Premier League bout....CONTINUE READING
Both teams enter the match on the back of FA Cup victories, with City defeating Luton Town 6-2 and United narrowly overcoming Nottingham Forest 1-0.
In the FA Cup fixture, Erling Haaland emulated one of Man United’s iconic frontmen by scoring an impressive five goals for Manchester City, securing their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 edition. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne on four occasions, Haaland became the first player in 54 years to achieve such a feat in an FA Cup fixture for a top-flight club.
Manchester United, aiming to build on their recent success, will attempt to challenge their dominant city rivals. However, concerns persist regarding their vulnerable defense and a lack of attacking fluidity.
Sitting in sixth place on the table after 26 matches, Man United faces a challenge to secure a Champions League spot, currently trailing Aston Villa by eight points. The gap could widen to 11 if Villa replicates City’s success against Luton on Saturday.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 PM on Sunday, marking the 54th derby between the two sides in the top flight since 1992.
In terms of the head-to-head record in the Premier League, Manchester City has won 19 games, drawn 9, and Manchester United has won 25 out of the 53 matches played.
Team news reveals that Manchester City will miss Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish due to injury, but key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are expected to return. Erling Haaland is set to lead the attacking line.
On the other hand, Manchester United faces the absence of several key players due to injuries, including Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia, and Anthony Martial. Bruno Fernandes’ participation is uncertain after concerns about his fitness, but manager Ten Hag has downplayed any worries.
The possible starting lineups are as follows:
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford…CONTINUE READING>>
