Manchester United host local rivals, Manchester City in a massive Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.
Victory would move Man Utd up to fourth for at least a few hours, whilst second-placed Man City will move to within three points of Arsenal with a win before the Gunners play at teatime.
Team News
Bryan Mbeumo is available for Man Utd following his return to the squad after Cameroon’s Quarter-Final exit at Africa Cup of Nations.
Matthijs de Ligt (back), Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo (both international duty) remain sidelined.
Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-0 semi-final first-leg win at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias (both hamstring), Josko Gvardiol (leg), John Stones (thigh), Omar Marmoush (international duty), Mateo Kovacic (foot) and Savinho (calf) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Man City at Old Trafford on Saturday 17 January at 12:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have claimed four points in their last five league meetings against Man City (W1, D1, L3).
- Man City have lost one of their last five league visits to Man Utd (W2, D2, L1).
- City have kept four clean sheets in their last five trips to Utd.
- Man Utd have kept just two clean sheets at home in the top flight this season.
- City haven’t gone four league games without victory since a four-match losing streak between November – December 2024.
Prediction
Now out of the FA Cup at this earliest point for the first time since 2013-14 season, Man Utd really need to knuckle down and focus on trying to get European qualification ready for their next permanent manager next season, otherwise they are going to struggle to attract top talent come summer.
Michael Carrick though will be buoyed by how well Utd started and finished against Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend, but there is no doubting how wasteful they were for large chunks which has to be a concern coming into this tricky test.
Man City though weren’t at their best against a defensively low-block Newcastle as they often lacked the creative edge at times to unlock the Magpies’ back lines, yet they crucially were clinical when chances fell their way – although Erling Haaland’s offside for Antoine Semenyo’s second goal was obvious far sooner than it took VAR.
Although Utd will get a managerial bounce from Carrick’s interim appointment, I really can’t see them getting anything here against a much better City team.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-2 Man City
Result: Man Utd 2-0 Man City
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