Fresh off a dominant European win, Michael Carrick faces a selection dilemma at Old Trafford as injury concerns and fatigue shadow his lineup choices for the derby.
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Michael Carrick's Manchester United face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford in the first derby of the season.
The battle of Manchester comes just days after United's return to the Champions League against Sabah FK. While Enzo Maresca's side were handed 48 more hours of rest, Carrick will be hoping his side can use the confidence from the 4-0 win to push for all three points on Sunday.
Manchester City have won all three of their Premier League matches this season, while United have won one (Ipswich Town), drawn one (Everton), and lost one (Hull City).
Several changes were made on Thursday evening, with Luke Shaw even dropping out of the squad after missing training on Wednesday. Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire were also handed a rest against the Azerbaijan champions.
With that in mind, Roundtable predicts the Manchester United XI to face Manchester City on Sunday.
Man Utd Predicted XI vs Man City
Senne Lammens will no doubt continue between the sticks after his clean sheet against Sabah FK in the Champions League, although some fans were left unimpressed by his performance against Everton. While Ainsley Maitland-Niles' goal was not savable, some felt that the Belgian could have done better for Tyrique George's equaliser.
After a midweek rest, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire are sure to return to the starting lineup, with Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro returning to the bench. Lisandro Martínez will continue in the starting side, while concerns remain about Luke Shaw.
Knowing his injury history, Carrick may have chosen to leave Shaw out against Sabah, so he is not a risk for Sunday, but his absence from the squad has to be a worry. If he is fit, he will start. If not, that is a problem for Manchester United.
Michael Carrick faces a selection headache as Bruno Fernandes battles a late knock, while key reinforcements remain sidelined ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes Manchester derby at Old Trafford.roundtable.ioFernandes, Baleba, Amad: Man Utd Injury Updates vs Man City (Premier League)
Michael Carrick faces a selection headache as Bruno Fernandes battles a late knock, while key reinforcements remain sidelined ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
In midfield, it seems unlikely Michael Carrick will change the partnership of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans, with both players growing into form against Everton and Sabah. Andrey Santos may have to wait until the Carabao Cup for his first competitive start in red.
Bruno Fernandes was seen limping out of the stadium after the Champions League tie on Thursday, but even if he is slightly injured, the Manchester United captain will do everything he can to play on Sunday.
During his first stint as interim head coach, after Ole Gunnar Solskjær was sacked, Carrick proved he was not against resting Fernandes against Villarreal in the Champions League. But dropping him in the derby seems highly unlikely.
As for the front three, Marcus Rashford should return to the starting lineup after his impressive performance against Everton.
That means one of Matheus Cunha or Benjamin Šeško will drop to the bench. Cunha has started all three Premier League games through the middle, but Šeško impressed at centre-forward against Sabah and off the bench against Everton.
With Amad still out injured, Bryan Mbeumo will continue on the right flank.
Manchester United predicted XI vs Manchester City: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Tielemans, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford, Šeško.