Manchester United will be looking to extend their unbeaten run when they host Man City in the Premier League fixture this weekend.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side eased past Derby in the FA Cup on Thursday night and know another positive result on Sunday is needed to keep their top-four challenge alive.
United have lost their last three home games against City in all competitions but have won twice at the Etihad Stadium already this season.
Harry Maguire missed the win over Derby but should be back in contention, while Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are both doubts.
Samuel Luckhurst
United have had some joy with a back three this season but should be emboldened enough to take on City, now they have a more secure midfield. Nemanja Matic made the League Cup tie competitive in the end after City threatened to inflict a heavier thrashing than the 6-1 in the first leg.
Mason Greenwood and Daniel James are raw rookies to have to call upon for a match of this magnitude, but at least have the totemic Bruno Fernandes to alleviate the pressure on them and City’s full-backs are always prone to mishaps if enough pressure is exerted on them.
Victor Lindelof performed at City twice this season and is a more serene option than Eric Bailly, unlucky not to start at Everton.
Greenwood and James come in
Tyrone Marshall
United have often used the back three in the biggest game this season and having had success with it against City it would be no surprise if Solskjaer returned to it. Maguire is a certainty if fit, as is Shaw at left center-back, with Lindelof likely to keep the trio. That will leave Wan-Bissaka and Williams as the wing-backs.
Matic has twice played well against City this season so has to be in the team, with McTominay making way. Fred can play a deeper role in midfield too with Fernandes pulling the strings.
That will leave two up front and while the temptation is to play Ighalo with Martial, it might be that the pace of Greenwood is the better option.
Rich Fay
The big decision for Solskjaer this weekend is whether or not to switch to the back three formation which has worked so well in away games this season. Maguire’s fitness will likely dictate the approach, and if he is fit it should be the more defensive set-up with Shaw at center-back.
Matic was rested in midweek and has been exceptional in both games against City already this year, he should be joined by Fred and Fernandes in the midfield.
Up front Solskjaer would likely go with James if fully fit, but if not up to scratch Ighalo should be the one to accompany Martial with Greenwood to change the game from the bench.
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