Manchester United will welcome arch-rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford this Saturday in the first Manchester derby of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Venue: Old Trafford
Key Statistics
Manchester United have won three of their last five competitive games with Manchester City.
They have lost four of their last ten competitive games and have scored 15 times in that period. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in 13 home games.
They have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 games and have conceded 21 times in those 12 games.
The hosts have been poor at home this year, losing seven games already. They have not lost more than seven games at home in a single calendar year in 22 years.
Manchester City have won just two of their last five away games.
They are already five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Manchester City have failed to win a Manchester derby for two and half years in the Premier League – with the hosts recording a 6-1 aggregate scoreline in that period.
Head to head
The last ten meetings between both teams has seen Manchester United win three times while Man City has five wins in that period (D3).
Meanwhile, Manchester City have seven wins against Manchester United at Old Trafford. That’s the combined most for any side at the Red Devils’ home ground.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Man United: D-W-L-W-L
Man City: W-L-L-W-W
Manchester United
Manchester United followed up their win against Tottenham in the PL last weekend with a disappointing 2-2 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek.
The Red Devils had to come from behind again to snatch a draw thanks to another late goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. The 36-year-old is literarily carrying this team and will be desperate to lead them out to another win this weekend against their local rivals.
However, he and his teammate must be in their best shape if they want to take anything from this tie as City have proven this season that they are ready for business.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also be desperate to avoid another embarrassing defeat at the hands of one of their bigger rivals when he welcomes City to Old Trafford. After his side were beaten 5-0 by Liverpool, the Norwegian admitted that he and his team would keep fighting.
But his side’s performance at Atalanta will be a cause for worry. However, Solskjaer will be encouraged by his record against Pep Guardiola, which has seen lose just once to the Spaniard in six games (W3, D1).
Meanwhile, the biggest blow for the Red Devils heading into the derby is Raphael Varane’s hamstring injury, which will sideline him for a month.
Possible Man United starting line-ups
David de Gea, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailey, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola returned to winning ways on Wednesday when they beat Club Brugge 4-1 in the Champions League to put the disappointment of their 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace last weekend behind.
However, the result meant that Man City’s wait for a clean sheet stretches to five games.
The ‘Cityzens’ have slipped five points behind Chelsea at the top of the table. A loss at Old Trafford will widen that gap to eight points and put pressure on Guardiola who will be desperate to get his first Premier League win at Old Trafford against Solskjaer.
However, his side have struggled in recent away games and have won just two of their last five away games (D1, L2).
Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte will miss this game due to the red card he picked up in their loss to Crystal Palace. Ferran Torres also misses through injury while Benjamin Mendy remains suspended by the club.
Possible Man City starting line-ups
Ederson; Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez
Prediction
Manchester United 1:2 Manchester City
