PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester derby injury update: will Grealish and Hojlund play?
Both Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag had first teamers who were unavailable for the clash at the Etihad.
Both Manchester teams head into this afternoon’s clash at the Etihad with a need to collect all three points. City, to not lose sight of leaders Liverpool, who extended their advantage at the top with a late win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. United meanwhile, need to make up a lot of lost ground as the campaign enters its decisive stage.
United attempting to salvage something from a disappointing season
Ten Hag’s team were dealt a crushing blow last weekend, losing to Forest and must return to winning ways asap if their are to avoid spiraling further down the standings. United, who ended last season in third place, run the risk of missing out on European football altogether - they are currently sixth and now 11 points off the last Champions League berth although a top-five finish might be enough. More tough games are on the horizon for Ten Hag’s troops, who must meet direct rivals Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and Brighton in the final weeks of the competition.
Defending champions City are one of two teams who present a serious challenge to Liverpool’s title ambitions. Guardiola’s team are second in the table and a win today would pull them back to within a point of the leaders, who they meet next weekend...
Both managers have injury concerns going into today’s clash, the 192nd Manchester derby - let’s take a look at who in unavailable.
Jack Grealish is ruled out for City. The England international hobbled out of the midweek 2-6 FA Cup win over Luton on 38 minutes after suffering a relapse of a groin injury. He faces several weeks on the sidelines and at best, might return at the end of this month. Grealish is Guardiola’s only absentee - the rest of his squad are fully fit with some key players having benefitted from being rested against Luton. Both Kevin De Bruyne and top scorer Erling Haaland appear to have put their fitness issues behind them.
Maguire and Hojlund to miss the Manchester derby
As for visitors United, there has been some concern about skipper Bruno Fernandes, who took a knock in last weekend’s home game against Fulham and looked a little out of sorts in Wednesday’s FA Cup tie away at Forest. He has been training and is expected to start. Rasmus Højlund sat out last week’s Premier League game at Old Trafford after picking up a muscular injury and is expected to remain out of action for the next two to three weeks.
Centre-back Raphaël Varane has missed five games this season but has started (and finished) all but one of the last eight games. He will be partnered by Jonny Evans as Harry Maguire, who missed the mid-week Cup tie, remains sidelined.
Ten Hag will also be without Lisandro Martínez (knee), Luke Shaw (muscular injury) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) while long-term absentees Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount will also sit this one.