4 Key Changes: Predicted 4-2-3-1 Manchester United Lineup vs Manchester City
It will be the 199th instalment of the Manchester derby on Sunday evening, as Manchester United welcome cross-town rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford in the Premier League.
The Red Devils approach the high-profile fixture at home seeking to build on Thursday’s 4-0 demolition of Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on their first Champions League outing for nearly three years. That followed what has been a largely disappointing start to the new Premier League season, with Michael Carrick’s men picking up just four points from three games.
The Mancunian giants were close to winning their second game of the campaign, only to concede a last-gasp stoppage-time equaliser at Everton last weekend. Michael Carrick, who began his interim stint last term with a 2-0 success over Manchester City, will be aiming to hand Enzo Maresca his first blow of the campaign on Sunday.
Manchester United Team News
Luke Shaw missed out entirely in the Champions League fixture against Sabah FK, and Carrick claims the left-back will be assessed on whether he is fit to face Man City.
Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo and Tom Heaton remain sidelined for Manchester United.
Predicted Manchester United lineup vs Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Senne Lammens kept his first clean sheet of the season in the 4-0 win over Sabah, which will lift his spirits heading into the high-profile Manchester derby.
Defence
Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire should both return to the Man United ranks against City. Maguire will partner Lisandro Martinez in central defence, with Dalot replacing Noussair Mazraoui at right-back.
Luke Shaw might pass a late fitness test to be available to start on Sunday, replacing Patrick Dorgu in the process.
The United back four have to be focused from the first blow of the whistle to the last to keep an in-form and potent City attack, led by Erling Haaland, at bay.
Midfield
Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans should continue their partnership in the middle of the park. Tielemans has settled into the new surroundings and become a key cog in United’s engine room. The duo will look to control the pace of the game and link well with skipper Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes will be the hosts’ main creative outlet, trying to destabilise the City backline with his incisive passing and vision. How the Portuguese performs will have a big say in deciding the outcome of the derby.
Attack
What to do in the final third will be the biggest question mark facing Carrick. Benjamin Sesko has scored in back-to-back games, but the United boss may not hand the big Slovenian a quickfire second start. Instead, Matheus Cunha, who scored against Sabah, could lead the United attack.
Marcus Rashford got valuable rest in midweek, so he will be fit and fresh to operate from the left flank, with Bryan Mbeumo holding width from the opposite end.
The likes of Sesko, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee and Andrey Santos could get opportunities in the second half to make a mark in the derby.
football formations
4 Key Changes: Predicted 4-2-3-1 Manchester United Lineup vs Manchester City 1