Manchester United travel across town to take on their arch-rivals Manchester City this Saturday and Guardiola’s men will have the golden opportunity of wrapping up the league during the Man City vs Man United game.
Manchester City currently sit at the top of the league with 84 points and one more win will mean that they will be crowned the 2017-18 champions. United, on the other hand, sit second on the table with 68 points – only two points ahead of Liverpool who are in third. If Jose Mourinho’s men fail to pick up a win this Saturday then Liverpool will have the chance of leapfrogging over them and take up the second spot.
We take a look at how Jose Mourinho will line up his team during the Man City vs Man United clash.
Man City vs Man United: United team news:
Manchester United have no fresh injury concerns before the Man City vs Man United clash.
Second choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero is unavailable for the match after picking up a knock during the international break. But that should not be any cause for concern as David De Gea will be infront of goal.
Mourinho has also confirmed that both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are back in contention for the Man City vs Man United game but we feel that the United boss will not take the risk of introducing them during such a high profile game. Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof started last weekend’s game against Swansea but Eric Bailly will surely return back to the starting line up and take the place of Lindelof in central defence.
The midfield will also see a couple of more changes as Jose Mourinho will hopefully take a more defensive-minded approach. This means that Scott McTominay will be into the squad and he will be given the role of man marking one of the City’s two midfielders.
Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic will retain their place in the starting Xi from last weekend’s win against Swansea.
The selection of an extra midfielder will mean that Jose Mourinho will have to sacrifice an attacking option and we feel that Juan Mata will be the one who will start the game on the bench. The Spaniard has been in mine form for most of the season but the United boss will want to field an attacking third which has pace and can open up Manchester City on the counter.
Man City vs Man United: United’s predicted line-up
Goalkeeper: David De Gea.
Defence: Young, Smalling, Bailly, Valencia.
Midfield: Matic, Pogba, McTominay
Attack: Sanchez, Lukaku, Lingard
Liverpool ripped apart Manchester City’s defence but it is safe to say that Jose Mourinho will not be taking that much of risk during the Man City vs Man United clash especially when they are playing away from home.
