Manchester City vs Manchester United preview: Zinchenko returns to training

By Ric Turner, Fri 06 December 2019 15:26


Manchester City vs Manchester United preview: Zinchenko returns to trainingSergio Aguero misses 168th Manchester derby with muscular injury

Manchester City vs Manchester United

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 7th December 2019

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, A Nunn Fourth Official: M Dean

Odds: City 1/3, Draw 9/2, United 9/1

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Carson, Ederson, Angelino, Cancelo, Garcia, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Rodri, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Jesus

Injured: Laporte, Sane, Aguero

Doubtful: Zinchenko

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDDWL

Manchester United

Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Squad (from): De Gea, Grant, Romero, Lindelof, Jones, Maguire, Rojo, Young, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Williams, Mata, Lingard, Pereira, Fred, James, Gomes, Matic, McTominay, Martial, Rashford, Greenwood

Injured: Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Dalot, Pogba

Doubtful: Rojo, Martial

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDLDW

Oleksandr Zinchenko could be available again following knee surgery, but Sergio Aguero is ruled out with a muscular injury. Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte continue their recovery from serious knee injuries.

The Blues won both derbies last season, 3-1 at The Etihad and 2-1 at Old Trafford, but Pep Guardiola is not underestimating City's cross-town rivals.

“It’s Manchester United,” Guardiola said. "All the respect for what they have done for English, European and world football. They are a good team.

“I judge specific players, specific qualities. They're incredibly fast up-front, good set pieces with [Harry] Maguire, [and have] physicality and aggression. I had a good impression when I saw them.

"Normally we talk a little about what happened in the past, but everything is changing. I couldn't care less [about past results]. Tomorrow is a 5.30pm start and the players decide who will win.

"History is huge and the quality of players they have has always been there and you have to try to beat them and we have spoken to the players on how they could beat them."

City won the last derby at The Etihad, with David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan nettin gin a 3-1 win. Overall City have won 51 of the 167 games played against United, with 49 draws and 67 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Angelino, Rodri, D Silva, De Bruyne, B Silva, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: City 2 United 1