Manchester United entertain arch-rivals Manchester City in today’s Premier League derby at Old Trafford.
United returned to winning ways on Thursday with a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah.
They will aim to do the same in the league after sharing the spoils against Everton last time out.
The club are already eight points behind leaders Arsenal and need to win to stay in the title pursuit.
United had the better of City with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in January this year, and manager Michael Carrick will want more of the same in today’s Manchester derby.
Ahead of the game, the manager could make four changes to the starting XI.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
Senne Lammens has played every league minute for the club since his debut in October last year.
The Belgian faces a stern challenge against the Cityzens but will be eyeing his first clean sheet of the top-flight campaign.
Carrick opted to overhaul his defensive options against Sabah, with Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu getting starts. He should revert to the regular defence.
Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw should start as the right and left-backs respectively, with Harry Maguire returning to partner Lisandro Martinez in the heart of the backline.
Shaw was completely left out of the squad in midweek due to a minor fitness concern, but we anticipate the England international to return to the starting XI against City.
The midfield should stay unchanged. Youri Tielemans came up with a brilliant assist for Bruno Fernandes’ goal against Sabah before being substituted at the half-time interval.
The Belgian has been kept fresh for the derby and should line up alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of the park. Fernandes is an obvious starter from the number 10 position.
In the final third, Bryan Mbeumo produced another goal contribution from the right wing in midweek. The Cameroonian should be a nailed-on starter from the position again.
We expect a change upfront with Benjamin Sesko dropping out. Matheus Cunha, who played on the left wing and scored on Thursday, could lead the line for the Mancunian giants.
Marcus Rashford was given a breather after his minor injury concern against Everton. He has three goals in his last four league starts against the Cityzens and looks poised to start on the left wing.
Sesko has been in good form with goals in back-to-back games, but Carrick could prefer to go with Cunha, who can track back and also provide a counter-attacking option for United.
Cunha is likewise better on the ball and aerially than Sesko, which could be required to hold onto possession in key phases. Sesko could still make a big contribution off the bench.
How Man Utd could line up vs Man City
Stats from Transfermarkt.com