[3-4-2-1]: Dalot removed from the squad, Bruno and Rashford dropped and academy player steps in- Manchester United predicted lineups vs Man City as Ruben Amorim tooka bold steps to bench some ‘finished players’
It’s Manchester Derby weekend! And it’s the first edition of this huge game for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
The Portugese is very excited to take on Manchester City. “I cannot treat it like a normal derby,” the recently installed boss said at his weekly Friday press briefing.
“It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and it is not that in this moment. So it is just one more game with a very good opponent. Both teams are struggling in the moment so I hope in future I can feel that real feeling of a derby [that has title implications].”
Manchester United Starting XI Prediction at Manchester City
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim should continue with his policy of rotation for Sunday’s Premier League Manchester derby with Manchester City at the Etihad.
The Red Devils will only be missing two players through injury at the very most, as Luke Shaw (calf) is definitely out, while Jonny Evans only has a slim chance of coming back from his knock.
With almost every single one of his troops available, Amorim will not shy away from shuffling the pack once more, although Andre Onana’s place in goal is definitely safe despite another howler in Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen.
Leny Yoro bumped Noussair Mazraoui down to the bench for last weekend’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest before Amorim made that straight swap again in the Czech Republic, and it is anybody’s guess as to whether the Frenchman or the Moroccan starts this one.
Amorim may just side with Mazraoui given his experience and regular minutes in 2024-25, and the ex-Bayern Munich man could complete an unchanged rearguard also comprising Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo should also hold their places, but the latter is likely to revert to a right wing-back role, thereby forcing Dalot over to the left flank as Tyrell Malacia drops out.
It should be all change further up the field, though, as Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte ought to provide the fresh legs in midfield, although Bruno Fernandes is sure to continue with the captain’s armband in tow.
The Portuguese will no doubt be supplying Europa League hero Rasmus Hojlund in attack, and Amorim could also promote Alejandro Garnacho to the XI in place of an inconsistent Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
