Manchester United will lock horns with arch rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.
Manchester United will make a short trip to the Etihad Stadium this weekend, as they gear up to take on neighbours Manchester City in matchweek 12 of the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho’s men will be high on confidence heading into the game following their morale-boosting 2-1 comeback win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week. The Red Devils have won their previous three matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games. And they will be aiming to extend that run against the champions.
Ahead of the blockbuster clash, Mourinho confirmed that Manchester United had no fresh injury concerns to contend with. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese said, “No new injuries
. So from Juventus, we don’t bring important injuries. We have ‘touches’ but I don’t think any player that was available for Juventus will be out.”
David De Gea is a definite starter between the sticks for Manchester United. The Spaniard will once again be key for the Red Devils, as he looks for his second clean sheet of the 2018-19 Premier League.
Captain Antonio Valencia is fit again, but is unlikely to break into the team, with stand-in right-back Ashley Young impressing heavily in recent games. Luke Shaw is very much a guaranteed starter out on the left side of the back four, with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof slowly establishing themselves as United’s preferred centre-back partnership.
There was an injury scare for Manchester United in the midfield department, when club record signing Paul Pogba did not train with the rest of the team on Friday. The Frenchman did arrive for training on Saturday, but wasn’t spotted at the team hotel in the evening. However, with Mourinho not hinting at his star player’s absence, Pogba should be fit enough to start at the Etihad.
Ander Herrera will take up another slot in the middle of the park for the 20-time English champions. Marouane Fellaini came on and altered the course of the game against Juventus, but is likely to be left on the bench again, with Nemanja Matic set to keep his place in the team.
Juan Mata is in line to be recalled into the starting lineup after his game-changing cameo against Juventus on Wednesday night. He will replace Jesse Lingard on the right flank, while in-form man Anthony Martial should continue to feature on the left side.
Star striker Romelu Lukaku missed the Juventus game with an injury, but Mourinho confirmed that the Belgian international will be fit for the weekend encounter. “We have a chance – it is Friday morning now – that Lukaku could be back,” the manager claimed in his pre-match presser.
However, Alexis Sanchez, who has looked sharp in the central role, is likely to keep his place at the fulcrum of United’s attack on Sunday ahead of Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
