[3-4-1-2]: Academy winger replaced Garnacho, Ayden Heaven returns and Onana benched- Manchester United’s predicted lineup against Manchester City as Ruben Amorim confirms the promotion of skillful academy winger to replace Alejandro Garnacho
In their first game since Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional exit announcement, Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford to battle formerly noisy neighbours Manchester United in the latest instalment of the Manchester derby.
Pep Guardiola’s side returned from the international break with a straightforward 2-0 triumph versus Leicester City in midweek, whereas their hosts lost for the 13th time in the Premier League season away to Nottingham Forest.
Match preview
A player whom Man United fans and all other rival supporters may be glad to see the back of, the dazzling and delightful De Bruyne will square up to the Red Devils for one final time on derby day this weekend, having confirmed that he will be leaving Man City at the end of his contract this summer.
The long-serving Belgian playmaker will bring the curtain down in a glittering 10-year career at the Etihad Stadium, but not before attempting to aid City’s quest for customary Champions League qualification, which received a timely fillip against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester.
Jack Grealish’s long-awaited first Premier League goal of the season and Omar Marmoush’s fifth saw Man City stride to a routine win over the Foxes, thus ending a two-game losing sequence in the top division and briefly forcing their way back into the top four of the table.
Chelsea’s slender success over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday has bumped Guardiola’s men back down to fifth, although that spot will likely still suffice for top-level European qualification thanks to England’s superior UEFA coefficient, and FA Cup glory could still be theirs ahead of a Wembley semi-final date with Nottingham Forest.
However, City have seldom come up with the goods away from their Etihad base in the Premier League in recent times, winning just three of their last 11 top-flight games on the road and losing six of them, as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 37 combined.
Sticking with the theme of Manchester teams losing away from home, Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils were haunted by a former flame at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in midweek, as Anthony Elanga further highlighted Man United’s striking transfer failings.
Where the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have faltered, Elanga has flourished in 2024-25 and propelled the Garibaldi to victory on home turf with an exceptional solo run and finish with just five minutes played.
Amorim’s shot-shy attack had no reply in the 85 that remained as their four-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end, as well as an identical streak without defeat in the Premier League alone, leaving the top half of the table firmly out of their reach.
Silverware and a coveted Champions League place could still be secured via the Europa League – Lyon await for the first leg of their quarter-final next Thursday – but failure to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 12 home games could put paid to the idea of continental glory.
Not since December’s 4-0 win over Everton have Man United shut out a visitor to the Theatre of Dreams, a result that came just two weeks before an absorbing 2-1 success at the Etihad, one that means the Red Devils have not lost any of their last three Manchester derbies inside 90 minutes.
Team News
While De Bruyne is fit, firing and ready to lap up the fanfare in his final Manchester derby, the same cannot be said for Erling Haaland, whose severe ankle injury will keep him sidelined for the next five to seven weeks.
The towering Scandinavian comprises one part of Man City’s injured quintet, which also features Rodri (ACL), Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (thigh) and Manuel Akanji (groin), but Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to be given the all-clear after being left out in midweek.
However, Nico O’Reilly will not cede his place in defence lightly, while Grealish has done all that he can to reprise his role in the number 10 slot too, meaning that De Bruyne may have to be content with watching on from the start.
On the hosts’ side, none of Lisandro Martinez (knee), Amad Diallo (ankle), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Luke Shaw (calf) or Jonny Evans (back) will exit the infirmary in time for Sunday, while Matthijs de Ligt is a fresh doubt with an “issue” sustained against Forest.
Harry Maguire should therefore prepare himself for a recall to the back three, but Amorim told reporters on Friday that Kobbie Mainoo (unspecified) may be fit to return, although he will not be able to complete the full 90 minutes.
Similarly, caution will be exercised over Mason Mount following his comeback off the bench against Forest, but Amorim has declared the former Chelsea man fit to start as he finally seeks to ignite his Red Devils career.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Garnacho; Hojlund
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Savinho, Grealish, Doku; Marmoush
