Manchester United meet Manchester City at Old Trafford in a Manchester derby encounter.
Victory would see Man Utd go sixth if Brighton fail to win elsewhere otherwise the Red Devils will go seventh if take all three points here, whilst Man City can return to second with a win.
Team News
Man Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after their Champions League win over Copenhagen, whilst Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) and Casemiro (ankle) could both return if pass late fitness tests.
Lisandro Martinez (foot), Luke Shaw (muscle), Jadon Sancho (personal), Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo (both knee) remain sidelined.
Man City will be without Manuel Akanji after he was red carded during their league win at home to Brighton.
Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Man City at Old Trafford in a 3:30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday 29 October, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have won two of their last five Premier League meetings against Man City (W2, L3).
- Man City have won three of their last six league visits to Old Trafford (W3, D1, L2).
- Both teams have scored in each of their last four meetings in all competitions, with City winning three of those clashes to Utd’s one win which coincidentally came here in January 2023.
- Victor Lindelof and Rasmus Højlund have lost more aerial battles than any other Utd player this season, having lost 13 such battles apiece.
- Jeremy Doku has been caught offside on more occasions in the league this season than any other City player, having been found offside on three separate occasions.
Prediction
On an evening when Utd delivered an outstanding minute’s silence for Sir Bobby Charlton, Utd seemed slightly overrawed by the occasion because they stuttered to a scrappy win over Copenhagen with a clinical header, amidst a series of poor end product play and defensive luck at times.
Utd though have to put the emotions of that game behind them and play total football here because they are underdogs here, such has been their defensive fragility and inconsistent firepower which can’t afford to flare up if want to win this local contest.
Man City meanwhile are back to their best with two wins in their last two games even if Young Boys did push them hard in midweek, which shows that City can be tested but Utd must be clinical as Man City have enough firepower to eventually break through for the win.
In fact, I do expect that to be the case because for all of Utd’s quality, there is still inconsistency and goalkeeper, Andre Onana isn’t exactly in strong form which will suit City if they can come and dominate but avoid a second-half implosion as happened last season.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-2 Man City
Result: Man Utd 0-3 Man City
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