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How Manchester United could line up against Manchester City

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for Saturday's Premier League derby clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Manchester United will need to put their Champions League disappointment quickly behind them when they welcome neighbours Manchester City to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Devils were condemned to Europa League football in the New Year when they lost 3-2 to RB Leipzig in midweek, but must now focus on Premier League duties heading into the first Manchester derby of the season.

Man United have won their last four league games and sit above their opponents in the table, but they have struggled at home this season with a league-low percentage of their points coming at Old Trafford.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how an under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could set his side up for the contest.



Possible MNU XI vs. MNC

Out: Phil Jones (knee)
Doubtful: Anthony Martial (muscle), Edinson Cavani (muscle)

> Click here for Man United's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Manchester United have a relatively clean bill of health for this derby, although their striking options are likely to be limited with Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani still both major doubts.

Both players missed the midweek defeat to Leipzig through "minor" issues and are not expected to return in time for this one, with Mason Greenwood seemingly at the front of the queue to lead the line in their absence.

If Martial does make it then he could become the first Man United player since Eric Cantona to score in three successive league Manchester derbies, having netted home and away last season.

It is more likely that the goalscoring burden will fall on Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, though, with the latter having directly contributed to more goals than any other Premier League player since making his debut for the club.

Fred could return in midfield for United, with Paul Pogba again set to be excluded despite scoring in his side's last two games now.

Mino Raiola's comments regarding Pogba's future will not have done his chances of earning more regular starts any favours at all, meaning that he will likely have to watch on from the bench at best again.

Solskjaer is expected to revert to four at the back with Luke Shaw missing out, having only returned from injury in midweek.

David de Gea should continue in goal, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to start at right-back again as he looks to once again stifle the threat of Raheem Sterling.

> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


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Combined XI: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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