Man Utd vs Man City: Premier League team news and prediction
The showpiece event in the Premier League this weekend comes from Old Trafford as Manchester United and Manchester City resume rivalries. Bragging rights are also on the line in a huge game that could have major repercussions in the title race.
Ahead of this one, we provide all the pre-match information, including what time this game kicks off, where to watch the action, team news and probable XIs...
When is kick off?
Saturday 6th November, 12:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Old Trafford, Manchester
What TV channel is it on?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event
Form Guide
After a four-game winless run, a streak that included three defeats, one of which was a 5-0 home loss to Liverpool, Manchester United earned their first league win since a 2-1 victory at West Ham in mid-September last weekend. United returned to Manchester with three points in tow as they beat Tottenham 3-0, that game spelling the end of Nuno Espirito Santo's time in north London with Antonio Conte, who had been mooted as a replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford, taking charge.
We are only in November, yet Manchester City lost ground in the title race as they fell to a surprise 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend courtesy of goals from Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher as City had Aymeric Laporte sent off on the stroke of half time. 11 points earned from the last six games is the sixth best return in the Premier League, yet Pep Guardiola will demand an immediate Premier League response.
Team News
Manchester United have something of a crisis in defence. Raphael Varane came off late in the first half of United's 2-2 draw with Atalanta on Tuesday night and is once again ruled out with a hamstring injury. With Victor Lindelof a doubt, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be forced into a three-man defence of Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, though Lindelof has been included in Sweden's squad for the international break, which suggests his injury isn't serious. Paul Pogba is suspended, but Solskjaer has no further absentee concerns.
Pep Guardiola will make a late decision on Kyle Walker, who sustained a foot injury in Champions League action in midweek. His absence would be a blow for Manchester City and it could see Joao Cancelo feature at right-back and Oleksandr Zinchenko start on the left. Aymeric Laporte is suspended after his dismissal against Crystal Palace, with John Stones set to make his second league start of the season, while Ferran Torres is a long-term absentee.
Probable XIs
Man Utd (3412) - De Gea; Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Shaw; Fernandes; Cavani, Ronaldo
Man City (433) - Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva; Jesus, Foden, Grealish
Key Battle: Bruno Fernandes vs Kevin De Bruyne
While some may have you believe that Bruno Fernandes is in poor form, the Manchester United star has provided a goal or an assist in seven of his last eight competitive outings for club and country, the only exception coming in the 5-0 loss to Liverpool. Fernandes opening the scored from the spot when these two last played as United went on to win 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium and he'd love nothing more than to score a first league goal since early September in Saturday's Manchester Derby.
Fernandes has made more key passes (37) than any other player in the Premier League this season, fans can at least expect the 27-year-old to create the chances for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani to hit the back of the net against Manchester City. Meanwhile, across the Manchester divide, injuries have dented Kevin De Bruyne's chances of making a sustained impact for the defending champions this season.
The Belgian has started just four league matches this season, yet has scored two goals in those four starts. That being said, United centre-back Victor Lindelof (2) has made more accurate through balls than De Bruyne (1) in the Premier League this season, which suggests the 30-year-old is not yet firing on all cylinders this term. He'll look to change that at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Score Prediction: Man Utd 1-3 Man City
