Manchester City and Liverpool will be looking to put pressure on Premier League table-toppers Arsenal when they go head-to-head for three points at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues went into the weekend as the Gunners' closest challengers and, having overcome Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League earlier this week, they have won six of their last seven outings in all competitions.
But Liverpool, under the tutelage of boss Arne Slot, have also enjoyed an upturn of form after sealing back-to-back victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid within the last eight days.
Man City Team News
Rodri during a pre-match warm-up with Manchester City
Rodri is a doubt to be involved after he missed Manchester City's Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund earlier this week, which is likely to result in Nico Gonzalez being deployed in front of the back four. Mateo Kovacic is certain to miss out after he suffered an ankle problem which is set to keep him on the sidelines for a prolonged period.
Omar Marmoush and John Stones - who are on contracts worth a combined total of £545,000-per-week before bonuses - are among those expected to be named among the substitutes.
Guardiola Drops Team News Update
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during their match against Bournemouth.
Guardiola, who will be celebrating his 1,000th match in management, has suggested that he will not hand Rodri a start as Nico Gonzalez has proven that he is capable of stepping up to the plate in his absence. In his pre-match press conference, the tactician said:
"We will see tomorrow. I think we won’t take a risk ahead of the international break. We have to find the moment he feels strong and fit to sustain the actions in the game properly.
"Still we are in November, and the best of the season is ahead of us and we need him. We are playing without the Ballon d’Or winner of two seasons ago and a massively important player for us. Nico is becoming a really good, important player."
Man City Predicted XI
Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrating after Manchester City scored against Manchester United
Manchester City Predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Silva; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Manchester City Predicted Substitutes: Trafford (GK), Stones (DEF), Ait-Nouri (DEF), Ake (DEF), Lewis (DEF), Reijnders (MID), Savinho (MID), Bobb (MID), Marmoush (FWD).
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool's Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak has been in a race against time to prove his fitness to Liverpool boss Slot after returning to training within the last 48 hours, following a spell nursing a groin injury sustained during the Champions League victory against Eintracht Frankfurt last month, but he is not set to be included in the starting line-up.
Alisson Becker is nearing a return to action, after a hamstring problem, but will not be available until the clash with Nottingham Forest on November 22. That means that Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue between the sticks. Jeremie Frimpong is facing longer out of action, while Giovanni Leoni remains a long-term absentee.
Slot Drops Team News Update
Liverpool manager Arne Slot applauds fans after the Manchester United defeat
Slot has confirmed that Isak only returned to training on Friday, meaning he is in a race against time to prove that he should be included in the matchday squad, while Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong will not be available until after the international break. The Dutch tactician, speaking in his pre-match press conference, said:
"He will train for the first time today with the team again, after being three weeks out. I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended so now it's time for us to see where he is, but I have to come back to those words because if you are only three weeks into the rehab, that doesn't bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago.
"Although, our rehab team is doing an incredible job, you cannot compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team. As much as we try to replicate it, that's simply not possible. So, again I have to say give him some time.
"I don't expect Jeremie to be fully fit for Forest [after the international break], but with Alisson we expect this."
Liverpool Predicted XI
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring against Real Madrid
Liverpool Predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Liverpool Predicted Substitutes: Woodman (GK), Gomez (DEF), Kerkez (DEF), Endo (MID), Nyoni (MID), Wirtz (MID), Chiesa (FWD), Ngumoha (FWD), Isak (FWD).