Manchester United vs Manchester City Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Manchester United:
De Gea, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Matic, James, Bruno Fernandes, Greenwood, Martial
Manchester City:
Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy; Rodri, David Silva, De Bruyne; Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Mahrez
Manchester United will welcome their bitter rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford in the 182nd edition of "Manchester Derby". City players will travel four miles from their Etihad Stadium to Old Trafford to play their first Premier League match since winning Carabao Cup last weekend. This is a derby with great tradition. The first meeting between the two teams occurred on 12 November 1881, when West Gorton – who would later become Manchester City – hosted Newton Heath – who would later become Manchester United. The game finished 3:0 in favour of the Heathens (United).
As of 29 January 2020, there have been 181 competitive meetings between the teams. United have won 75 and City 54, while the remaining 52 games finishing as draws. They already played three times this season. United won the reverse fixture this season in the Premier League with 2:1 at the Etihad. However, City were more successful when these two sides faced in Carabao Cup, securing a 3:2 aggregate win.
United are sharing the fifth position, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. The Red Devils will try to secure a Champions League spot. The actual form is solid, United are unbeaten on the last nine matches across all competitions. They were also successful in UEFA Europe League eliminating Belgian outfit Club Brugge with 6:1 aggregate victory. The arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon brought some new energy. He quickly became a new leader, scoring two goals and assisting two more in the Premier League. Solskjaer has another good news as Paul Pogba returned to first-team training this week. It is not impossible to play here, even I think this match comes too soon for him. Daniel James is also rated as doubtful and will be assessed ahead of the match. Marcus Rashford is definitely out, along with Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Lee Grant. January signing Odion Ighalo is pushing for a place after scoring a brace at Derby in the FA Cup victory. The 30-year-old has three goals from just two starts.
City are comfortably sitting on the second position. They are 22 points behind league leaders Liverpool, but also seven ahead of third-placed Leicester. On the top of that City have a match in hand. Last weekend Pep Guardiola's men won the second trophy of the season. They beat Aston Villa 2:1 in Carabao Cup final and lifted the trophy at Wembley. Previously they won the FA Community Shield in August. City are dominant in every match as Guardiola has some of the best midfielders in the World. The Spaniard has most of his players available for the trip to Old Trafford, but key central defender Aymeric Laporte is out injured. His absence is a big handicap as Guardiola has found it difficult without the Frenchman. John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are not capable of playing at the same level, so midfielder Fernandinho played most of the time on that position. Pep has a 'sweet' problem in attack as Gabriel Jesus scored important match winning goals against Leicester City and Real Madrid in recent games. Nevertheless, I believe Aguero will remain first option.
Manchester United vs Manchester City Prediction:
Manchester United looked much better with Bruno Fernandes in the midfield. The former Sporting Lisbon player gives the Red Devils a different dimension. However, I believe City will be able to control the midfield as usual. The quality is on City side and I believe they will win the match.
Manchester United vs Manchester City Pick: Manchester City to win @ 1.68 with
1xBet