The Manchester City vs Manchester United predicted lineups are intriguing ahead of the Manchester derby this Sunday, with so many new players, injuries and erratic form to contend with.
MORE — Preview, how to watch info for Man City v Man United
Who will Pep Guardiola select (especially in defense) given City’s shaky start to the new season? Will Ruben Amorim be able to get the best out of his new-look attack as he searches for a marquee win? And will new goalkeepers start at both ends of the pitch?
Below is our Manchester City vs Manchester United predicted lineups with analysis on how both managers could line up from the start.
Manchester City predicted lineup
——- Donnarumma ——-
—- Nunes —- Stones —- Dias —- Ait-Nouri —-
—— Rodri ——
—- Bobb —- Reijnders —- Silva —- Doku —-
——- Haaland ——-
It seems like Gianluigi Donnarumma will come straight in for his debut in goal, but if James Trafford starts don’t be surprised. In defense it’s the flip of a coin between Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis at right back and the former will probably get the nod. Central defense is a big problem but given a game of this magnitude Ruben Dias should come back in to start despite his poor start to the season. If John Stones has shaken off his injury problem he will start alongside Dias, and if not Guardiola will go with Nathan Ake, and also hope other center backs Gvardiol and Khusanov have got over their injury issues. In midfield Rodri is still getting up to speed but will relish this encounter in holding midfield, while ahead of him Bernardo Silva and Tiijani Reijnders should start as they will look to dictate the tempo of play. Out wide Oscar Bobb has been really bright early in the season and should start on the right with Foden and Savinho struggling with knocks. Jeremy Doku should start on the left with Omar Marmoush out injured. The main man up top Erling Haaland is in fine form for club and country with nine goals in five games to start the season. If City feed him in the right areas he is in great form and could have scored even more early in the season.
OUT: Omar Marmoush (knee), Rayan Cherki (thigh), Kalvin Phillips (achilles), Marcus Bettinelli (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Mateo Kovacic (calf), Josko Gvardiol (knock), Savinho (undisclosed), John Stones (undisclosed), Phil Foden (ankle), Abdukodir Khusanov (knock)
Manchester United predicted lineup
——- Bayindir ——
— Yoro —- De Ligt —- Shaw —-
—— Diallo —- Casemiro —- Mainoo —- Dorgu —-
—— Mbeumo —— Fernandes ——
——- Mount ——-
United also have a big call to make in goal with young Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir struggling early in the season and highly-rated Belgian stopper Sanne Lemmens arrived from Antwerp on deadline day. Does Lemmens come straight in? Don’t be surprised if he does, but Bayindir may stick around for now. The back three is very settled with Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw perhaps the most solid and settled part of United’s team. Out wide Amad Diallo will start on the right and Patrick Dorgu on the left and both are so important to Amorim’s flexible system. Despite a long trip back to Brazil for World Cup qualifiers Casemiro will start in holding midfield, while we could see either Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte start alongside him in a more defensive approach as United look to overpower City in midfield like Brighton and Spurs have done recently. Will Matheus Cunha out injured, Bruno Fernandes could be pushed further forward to play alongside Bryan Mbeumo and support the number nine. Who will start up top in that role? Mason Mount could be preferred as a false nine as Benjamin Sesko is still getting up to speed with the Premier League.
OUT: Diogo Dalot (muscular), Matheus Cunha (muscular), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring)
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