(Football news) Bitter rivals Manchester United and Manchester City will lock horns in the Premier League today, hoping to secure the three points. Pep Guardiola will be in the dugout for his 500th match as City manager and will be looking for a response from his side after a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Southampton in the Carabao Cup. However, City have a good record against their neighbours, having defeated them 6-3 earlier in October at the Etihad Stadium with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scoring hat tricks.
If they do manage to win, they will secure their sixth double over Manchester United, one more than Liverpool. City first did the double over the Red Devils in the 2007-08 season and then went on to win home and away in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22. Manchester United have a poor record against City at Old Trafford, losing to their ‘noisy neighbours’ more times than any other opponent in the Premier League (18 times). However, Erik ten Hag’s side are in good form at the moment, winning all six matches since the World Cup and have picked up 35 points since August 22nd, more than any other team in the Premier League.
In team news, right back Diogo Dalot is unavailable for Manchester United due to a hamstring issue while Donny Van De Beek is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a knee injury. Axel Tuanzebe and Jadon Sancho are also unlikely to feature but Bruno Fernandes will be available once again after serving his suspension against Charlton and will feature alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Raphael Varane was rested in midweek but should be back in the starting lineup while in-form Marcus Rashford is expected to lead the attack. New signing Wout Weghorst will not feature in this fixture which means Anthony Martial could feature in the lineup as well.
As for City, John Stones is unavailable due to fitness issues but Guardiola has a fully fit squad apart from the 28 year old. Reuben Dias could feature in the starting lineup for the first time since his hamstring injury due to Stones’ absence while Kyle Walker should feature in right back. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are expected to return to centre-midfield while Erling Haaland will return to City’s attack. Riyad Mahrez could be recalled in the starting lineup and is expected to feature alongside one of Foden, Jack Grealish or Julian Alvarez in a front three. A low scoring draw seems like a likely result from this fixture.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish
Also read: Manchester United reach agreement to sign striker Wout Weghorst
