It’s derby day as Manchester City welcome Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium for Sunday’s standout Premier League clash. Check out our Man City vs Man Utd preview and prediction ahead of the big game.
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Man City vs Man United: Match Preview
A resistible force meets a movable object at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as a surprisingly out-of-sorts Manchester City take on a Manchester United side still adjusting under new coach Ruben Amorim.
The struggles of both teams add an extra layer of intrigue to what could be one of the most compelling Manchester derbies in recent memory.
Defeats have become worryingly common for City; Pep Guardiola’s men suffered their seventh loss in 10 games on Wednesday, falling 2-0 to Juventus.
Despite their star-studded lineup, City appeared fatigued in Turin, where Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie delivered the decisive blows for the Italian side.
Manchester United, on the other hand, come into Sunday’s derby buoyed by a confidence-boosting 2-1 comeback victory over Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League, with Rasmus Højlund emerging as the Red Devils’ hero on Thursday.
However, their domestic form paints a different picture, having suffered back-to-back league defeats. A loss on Sunday would mark the first time United have lost three consecutive league games in a single season since December 2015 under Louis van Gaal. Additionally, new manager Ruben Amorim has never endured three straight losses in his top-flight managerial career, with this being his 172nd such match.
Amorim, of course, already holds a victory over City this season. His Sporting CP side stunned the reigning champions with a 4-1 win in the Champions League back in November, shortly after he was announced as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Manchester United.
This sets up the opportunity for Amorim to achieve a rare feat: only one manager has ever defeated the reigning Premier League champions with two different teams in a single season. That was Alan Pardew, who managed the feat against Man City with Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the 2014-15 campaign.
Boosting Amorim’s chances of replicating this achievement is City’s defensive fragility. Pep Guardiola’s side have been uncharacteristically leaky at the back, conceding at least twice in seven of their last 11 Premier League matches (W4 D3 L4) — as many times as they had in their previous 62 games in the competition.
That said, Manchester United are far from defensively solid themselves. A glaring vulnerability lies in their struggles at corners, with 39% of their Premier League goals conceded this season coming from such situations (7/18) — the highest percentage in the league. Across the calendar year, United have let in 15 goals from corners, a concerning tally when compared to their combined total of 18 across 2021 (eight), 2022 (four), and 2023 (six).
Another area of concern is the risky playstyle of goalkeeper André Onana. He was at fault for Viktoria Plzen’s goal in Thursday’s Europa League tie and has now committed two errors directly leading to goals this season. Only six goalkeepers across Europe’s top five leagues (in all competitions) have made more such mistakes.
Fortunately for United, Bruno Fernandes continues to step up, helping to offset these frailties. His clever free-kick set up Rasmus Højlund’s winner against Plzen, highlighting the Portuguese playmaker’s resurgence under Ruben Amorim. Fernandes has been in fine form since Erik ten Hag’s departure, contributing to six goal involvements in his last six Premier League games (three goals, three assists), compared to just two assists in nine games under the Dutchman this season.
The United captain also has a strong recent record against Manchester City. Fernandes has been involved in five goals in his last six meetings with City across all competitions (two goals, three assists), including providing an assist in each of the last three encounters.
If City are to get back on track, reigniting Erling Haaland’s scoring form will be crucial — and the good news is that he boasts an impressive record against Manchester United.
In just four Premier League Manchester derbies, Haaland has contributed to nine goals (six goals, three assists), the most goal involvements of any City player against United in the competition.
Phil Foden, meanwhile, has been equally prolific in recent derbies, netting six goals in his last four Premier League matches against United. Only Sergio Agüero (eight) has scored more Manchester derby goals for City in the competition than Foden (six, tied with Haaland).
Man City vs Man United: Head-to-Head
United have suffered 20 Premier League defeats to Manchester City — only against Arsenal (21) have they been beaten more often in the competition.
The Red Devils have lost their last three Premier League visits to the Etihad, conceding 13 goals across those matches. Their most recent run of four consecutive league losses away to City occurred between 1952 and 1955.
City have won five of their last six Premier League encounters with United (L1), a significant improvement compared to their record in the previous 13 meetings (W4 D3 L6).
Man City vs Man United: Team News
Man City – Team News
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City won’t have much time to dwell on their latest defeat as they prepare to host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
This derby is quickly becoming one of the most highly-anticipated in recent years, given the current form of both teams.
City have managed just one win in their last 10 games across all competitions, following a 2-0 loss to Juventus on Wednesday night. This setback makes it even more challenging for them to secure a top-eight finish, which would grant a bye to the last 16. However, Guardiola’s immediate concern will be breaking their poor run of form, starting with the visit of their local rivals.
Guardiola has already faced new United manager Ruben Amorim this season, with Sporting CP delivering a heavy 4-1 defeat to the Premier League champions.
The City manager will be without John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji for Sunday’s clash, and Guardiola acknowledged that he may need to adjust his lineup.
This worrying dip in form is partly due to ongoing injury troubles, with Guardiola recently lamenting the absence of seven potential starters during their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend.
In addition, there will be a forced change in defense as Rico Lewis is suspended following his red card at Selhurst Park. With Stones, Akanji, and Ake injured, young Jahmai Simpson-Pusey may be called upon to start the biggest match of his career.
Stefan Ortega could replace Ederson in goal, while Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden, who has an excellent scoring record against United, might also feature, though their fitness is in question after not being used off the bench against Juventus.
Man City – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper – Ortega
- Defenders – Walker, Dias, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol
- Midfielders – Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne
- Forwards – Nunes, Savinho, Haaland
Injured/Doubtful – Rodri, Bobb, Ake, Stones, Akanji
Suspended – Rico Lewis
Man United – Team News
Ruben Amorim heads into his first Manchester derby with perfect preparation, as he looks to lead Manchester United to victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, building on their comeback win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League.
After back-to-back Premier League defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, the Red Devils sit 13th in the table. However, a win this weekend would close the gap to just five points behind their rivals.
This could be the ideal moment to face Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola’s side has won only once in their last 10 matches across all competitions, following a 2-0 loss to Juventus midweek.
United fans will remember that Amorim has already defeated Guardiola this season, with his Sporting CP side securing a 4-1 victory. He reported no new injury concerns following their win in the Czech Republic, as he aims to complete a remarkable double over City.
With Jonny Evans returning to training earlier this week, Luke Shaw remains the only confirmed absentee for United. The left-back, who suffered a minor setback ahead of the Arsenal match, still has an uncertain return date.
This could see Diogo Dalot continue at left wing-back, with Amad Diallo shifting back to right wing-back despite impressing further forward against Plzen.
Lenny Yoro, who was rested on Thursday, is set to make his debut in the Manchester derby, and there may be recalls to the starting lineup for Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Rasmus Højlund, having scored twice off the bench to seal the turnaround against Plzen, has strengthened his case to start ahead of Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee.
Man United – Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1)
- Goalkeeper – Onana
- Defenders – Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez
- Midfielders – Amad, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot
- Forwards – Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund
Injured/Doubtful – Shaw
Man City vs Man United: Match Prediction
City’s weakened defense, United’s tendency to concede goals, and the visitors’ poor form on the road all suggest that this Manchester derby will live up to the hype. For the second time this season, Guardiola and Amorim could see their teams combine for five goals.
However, a repeat of the 4-1 thrashing Amorim’s Sporting handed Guardiola’s side seems unlikely. While we expect the Red Devils to exploit City’s depleted defense and score more than once, the champions remain a potent attacking force at home and could take advantage of United’s fatigue from Thursday night, securing a thrilling victory.
Prediction – Man City 3-2 Man United
When and Where to Watch the Man City vs Man United Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Man City and Man United is set for Sunday, December 15, at the Etihad stadium, kicking off at 10 p.m. (IST). The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network for TV viewers, while online streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar, allowing fans to follow the high-stakes game on their preferred device. With a thrilling encounter anticipated at the Etihad stadium, supporters won’t want to miss a moment of this Premier League showdown.
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FAQs
What’s at stake in the Manchester derby?
The match is crucial for both teams. Man City is struggling with form, having won just once in their last 10 games, while Manchester United needs to recover from recent defeats to avoid slipping further in the table.
Has Ruben Amorim faced Guardiola before?
Yes, Amorim defeated Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-1 earlier this season while managing Sporting CP in the Champions League.
What injuries are impacting Manchester United?
Luke Shaw is the only confirmed absentee for United, while Jonny Evans has returned to training. Diogo Dalot could play at left wing-back, and Amad Diallo might switch to right wing-back.
Can City bounce back after recent struggles?
Despite their defensive issues and poor form, City remains a potent attacking force at home, and they could take advantage of United’s fatigue from their midweek Europa League match.
Who is likely to start for Manchester United?
Rasmus Højlund’s two goals against Plzen boost his chances of starting up front, with potential recalls for Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Marcus Rashford.
