This particular Manchester derby will be quite the occasion at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, as both Manchester City and Manchester United are desperate for a morale-boosting win.
WATCH LIVE —Manchester City v Manchester United
Pep Guardiola and City have shown glimmers of a recovery in recent weeks but have still won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions as they lost 2-0 at Juventus in the Champions League in midweek. They remain eight points off leaders Liverpool, who have played a game less. There is a long way to go for the four-time reigning champs to be considered title contenders again but it’s hard to rule them out given their incredible quality in attack. Their poor defensive form this season has been caused by constant injuries and individual errors, with their 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace last weekend highlighting their particular fragility on the counter.
Ruben Amorim suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats heading into this game, with United losing 3-2 at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend. That defeat highlighted United’s poor defending from set pieces and Amorim is doing his best to change their formation, style of play and mentality all while playing three games in a week. Nobody thought the young Portuguese coach would turn things around quickly, including him, but the magnitude of the job Amorim has to perform to turn United back into top four contenders is perhaps starting to dawn on him. They are on 19 points, eight points behind City.
How to watch Manchester City vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET, Sunday (December 15)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Manchester City team news, focus
City are really suffering with defensive injuries. With Rico Lewis suspended, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Kyle Walker are the only three defenders they have left, with youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey set to start. In midfield the trio of Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne should get the nod, with Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Savinho all battling to start ahead of them. Phil Foden remains a doubt, while Erling Haaland is doing his best up top but isn’t getting anywhere near the amount of chances he usually gets.
OUT: Rodri (knee - out for season), Rico Lewis (suspension), Nathan Ake (thigh), John Stones (ankle), Manuel Akanji (unspecified), Oscar Bobb (lower leg) | QUESTIONABLE: Phil Foden (illness)
Manchester United team news, focus
Amorim has tried pretty much his entire squad in his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation and some players have looked better than others in adapting to it. Amad Diallo has been a real positive and will be a threat on the counter in this game, while the duo of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have shown flashes of brilliance but are having issues playing in a more central role. Amorim keeps changing his center backs but Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez should start as the three center backs but don’t be surprised if youngster Lenny Yoro gets the nod. In attack Rasmus Hojlund will be supported by Bruno Fernandes and one other (Rashford, Garnacho, Zirkzee or Mount) as Ugarte and Mainoo have the holding midfield roles locked down.
OUT: Luke Shaw (foot)| QUESTIONABLE: Victor Lindelof (groin), Jonny Evans (knock)
Manchester City vs Manchester United prediction
This should be chaos as both teams are struggling to defend well at the moment. United are dangerous on the counter and City keep giving up big chances on the transition. That all points to goals galore. Go for a draw. Manchester City 2-2 Manchester United.