Manchester United vs Manchester City preview: De Bruyne is an injury doubt ahead of trip to Old Trafford

By Ric Turner, Fri 06 March 2020 15:31


Manchester United vs Manchester City preview: De Bruyne is an injury doubt ahead of trip to Old TraffordBelgian midfielder injured his shoulder in latter stages of Carabao Cup final

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 8th March 2020

Venue: Old Trafford, Trafford

Referee: Michael Dean Assistants: D Cann, D Robathan Fourth Official: A Taylor

Odds: United 4/1, Draw 10/3, City 4/6

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester United

Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Squad (from): De Gea, Romero, Lindelof, Bailly, Jones, Maguire, Dalot, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Williams, Mata, Lingard, Pereira, Fred, Fernandes, James, Gomes, Matic, McTominay, Martial, Ighalo, Greenwood

Injured: Pogba, Grant, Rashford, Fosu-Mensah

Doubtful: James, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDLDW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

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

Injured: Laporte, Sane

Doubtful: De Bruyne

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDDWL

Kevin De Bruyne is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the closing stages of the League Cup final, but remains a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford according to Pep Guardiola.

“He is getting better,” he said.

“Today we didn’t train and tomorrow he will improve. This morning he was with the physio and he said he feels better. Not perfect, but he feels better. We will see.”

Aymeric Laport is ruled out with a hamstring injury, whilst Leroy Sane continues his rehabilitation after appearing for the EDS at Arsenal last week.

“He is making big progress but still he’s not 100% fit," Guardiola added.

"He has to be ready and fit to play official games right now.

“Maybe that will be good [more EDS games]. I think weeks and games will be good.

“He will feel it first himself because every week he is getting better and after I will try to give him minutes to get back as soon as possible. But, for this game, no.”

City won the last derby at Old Trafford, with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez netting for the Blues, along with an own goal from Andreas Perreira. Overall City have won 52 of the 170 games played against United, with 49 draws and 69 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: United 1 City 1