LIVE Man United vs Man City, Premier League: Haaland starts for City, Rashford leads MUFC attack

Welcome to Sportstar’s stay weblog of the Premier League conflict between Manchester United and Manchester City, being performed on the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.

MATCH PREVIEW

The stage has been set for a straight shootout between Arsenal and Manchester City for the English Premier League title and that situation will change into extra of a actuality in the event that they win their respective derby matches this weekend.

Don’t be so positive on that taking place, although.

Indeed, by Sunday night time, the variety of groups doubtlessly concerned within the title race may simply have grown to 5 heading into the second half of the season.

First up is the Manchester derby on Saturday, when City — wanting more and more unconvincing because the season progresses — faces a Manchester United staff using its greatest run of ends in 4 years.

“This United side is probably stronger than ever, at least in the recent past,” Gundogan stated, “so they are full of confidence, will play great football and we’ll need a much better performance than (against Southampton).”

No Man United supervisor has reached 20 victories on the membership faster than Ten Hag — he has achieved it in 27 video games — however the latest profitable run must be put into context given the opponents United has confronted, together with two lower-league groups within the cups and 4 of the present backside six within the Premier League.

City represents an enormous step up in high quality, although fourth-placed United has already overwhelmed Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham at residence this season.

Team News:

Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag dominated out Donny van de Beek for all the season and stated Diogo Dalot won’t be out there for choice for the derby. Anthony Martial stays uncertain.

Besiktas and Burnley striker Wout Weghorst, who’s reportedly near signing on mortgage for United, may also be unavailable for the conflict, as confirmed by the supervisor.

Manchester City, alternatively, has John Stones dominated out of the derby.

Form Guide:

Eight straight wins in all competitions. Nine straight wins at Old Trafford. United, now not burdened with the luggage that got here with having Cristiano Ronaldo within the squad, is brimming with confidence beneath Erik ten Hag and out to make amends for an embarrassing 6-3 loss to City in early October.

If Arsenal and City win this weekend, they’ll depart United and Tottenham of their wake, with solely third-placed Newcastle — which hosts Fulham on Sunday — in touching distance. If they lose, then the highest 5 would all of the sudden be separated by eight factors.

On present type, City is the staff that must be most fearful.

Back-to-back wins over Chelsea final week, within the league then the FA Cup, appeared to place City again on monitor, however a loss to Southampton within the League Cup on Wednesday not solely ended the staff’s hunt for a quadruple of trophies however raised questions in regards to the power in depth of Pep Guardiola’s squad in sure areas.

City has dropped factors in two of its final 4 league video games — each at residence, in a 2-1 loss to Brentford and a 1-1 draw with Everton — and, at the moment, doesn’t seem like the machine that may go on a protracted profitable run to take management of a title race, as Guardiola’s groups have carried out prior to now.

Worryingly, a frail-looking City didn’t also have a shot on course in opposition to Southampton, regardless of sending on Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland within the second half.

City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan stated their self-belief took successful.

(with inputs from AP)