Manchester City’s possible starting XI vs Manchester United

Manchester City face Manchester United in the first Manchester derby of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Reigning Premier League champions City won their third consecutive match in the Champions League in midweek, beating BSC Young Boys 3-1 in Switzerland, with a brace from striker Erling Haaland, and are now preparing for the short trip across Manchester.

Pep’s pre-match thoughts

“They are always dangerous,” said Guardiola when talking about United in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“It doesn’t matter the managers – and I have seen a few – they are always a tough opponent with the quality of the individual, the character, the momentum. They have the ability not to be on top and then just score goals. We know their quality, no doubts about that.

“When I was at Barcelona and Bayern, when I travel to Old Trafford, always special. It’s a special place and here it is special for our fans. But at the end it is just a football game, not like an FA Cup final or one of the last fixtures of the season where winning or losing can define winning the PL or not. There are still 87 points to play so it is another game and we have to be focused on what we have to do to beat them.”

Where are Man City in the Premier League?

After Tottenham and Arsenal’s Premier League victories this weekend, City are currently third in the Premier League table, five points off Spurs in first place.

Akanji out

City will be without defender Manuel Akanji against United this weekend. The 28-year-old is serving a suspension after being sent off against Brighton last time out, while midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is not expected to return to action until the new year.

Man City’s possible XI vs Man United

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva; Foden, Álvarez, Doku; Haaland.