Manchester United will make the short trip across the city to face our local rivals Manchester City in this mouth-watering Premier League derby on Sunday afternoon. Both teams progressed from their fifth-round FA Cup ties midweek with the Red Devils coming away with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest whilst the Citizens thumped Luton Town 6-2.
United heads into this fixture looking to avoid losing three successive defeats at the Etihad for the first time in Premier League history having lost 6-3 last season and then 4-1 in the 2021/22 season. We have conceded 10 goals in our last two visits but goalkeeper Andre Onana and his teammates kept a clean sheet on Wednesday evening during the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. A Bruno Fernandes free-kick into the six-yard box was met by the head of Casemiro to score the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game.
There is still potential that both United and City could meet again in the FA Cup final in a repeat of last year’s showcase at Wembley. The win at the City ground lifted the spirits amongst the players and fans after last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham. It was Alex Iwobi’s 97th-minute strike that stunned the Old Trafford faithful and condemned Erik Ten Hag’s side to their 10th league defeat of the season.
We remain in sixth place in the Premier League table after 26 games with only 12 games remaining for us to fight our way to a potential top-four finish. Aston Villa who currently occupy fourth place hold an eight-point advantage which could increase to eleven before the derby tomorrow if they overcome Luton Town.
United are going in as the underdogs during this clash at the Etihad with us losing the reverse fixture at Old Trafford back in October 3-0. However, we have been unbeaten away from home in our first six away games of 2024, and with Villa versus Liverpool, no Premier League game has seen more away wins than the Manchester derby.
Manchester United Team News
There will be several United players sitting out of the derby including Mason Mount (calf), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Luke Shaw (muscle), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (unspecified), Harry Maguire (unspecified), Rasmus Hojlund (unspecified), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Anthony Martial (knee).
Concerns were raised that Bruno Fernandes would not be making the trip to the Etihad after limping off the pitch at full time after winning our fifth-round FA Cup tie. Erik Ten Hag has calmed down those fears and reassured everyone about the Portuguese playmaker’s fitness. There is hope that Raphael Varane will be fit to feature against City after playing the full ninety minutes during midweek. It is expected that Kobbie Mainoo will return to the midfield alongside Casemiro.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup
Onana;
Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat;
Casemiro, Mainoo;
Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho;
Rashford.
Opposition Preview
City were in dominant form during their comprehensive 6-2 win away against Luton Town to see them progress to the next round of the FA Cup. Erling Haaland scored five goals and equaled a record set by United’s George Best 54 years ago in this competition. Haaland had been set up by Kevin De Bruyne on four of those occasions for his goals before completing his fifth of the game in the 58th minute. Mateo Kovacic added a sixth to cap off the demolition.
Pep Guardiola’s side remains on course for another treble as we head towards the business end of the season. They sit second in the Premier League table just one point behind leaders Liverpool and would fall further behind if their rivals overcome Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. City bounced back after Chelsea stopped their eleven-game winning run with victories over Brentford and Luton Town.
They are unbeaten in their last 18 games across all competitions. Should they score on Sunday, it would equal a club record of scoring in 55 consecutive home games, which was achieved between January 2012 and January 2014
Manchester City Team News
Manchester City’s demolition of Luton in the FA Cup was slightly dampened by the news Jack Grealish had suffered a groin injury and had to be taken off at half time. Pep Guardiola confirmed after the game that the winger is set to miss out on Sunday. Josko Gvardiol is racing against time as to whether he will recover from his ankle injury to feature.
Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Phil Foden who remained on the bench during the FA Cup tie will return to the starting eleven with Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovačić who scored during midweek likely to be dropped.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: DWWWWL
Manchester United (all competitions): WWWWLW
Manchester City Premier League form: WWWDWW
Manchester City form (all competitions): WWDWWW
Prediction
United are lacking a natural forward with Rasmus Højlund out injured, but it does give other players the chance to step up in his place. Our 100% away record in 2024 should give us some confidence but whether we can extend this to a seventh game is another question. If we are going to get anything out of this game, then our defence and attack need to be in sync with each other otherwise it could be another humbling defeat away to our neighbours.
Manchester City 2-2 Manchester United
