Manchester United host their noisy neighbours Manchester City in the season’s first Manchester Derby. At this point in time City are practically running away with the title and this match could very well decide if Jose Mourinho and his team can catch up to the league leaders or not.
Jose Mourinho is famous for parking the bus in high profile clashes and we feel that the game against Manchester City will not be any different but since this will be a home game for him hence he will also have the onus on him to attack and pick up all three points.
Here’s how Man United might line up during the Manchester Derby:
GOALKEEPER:
David de Gea is expected to start in goal yet again after being rested in mid-week and will remain a key figure in order to stop the deadly City attack.
David de Gea
DEFENCE:
Eric Bailly is expected to miss out due to injury, and Phil Jones just returning to full fitness so we presume that Mourinho will not risk him such a high profile game. Hence the pair of Smalling and Lindelof will take the field as the central defensive partnership of choice for Mourinho.
Ashley Young was rested in midweek and will be back in his newfound left-back role while Antonio Valencia will be on right-back duties.
Young – Smalling – Lindelof – Valencia
MIDFIELD:
Ander Herrera is expected to partner Nemanja Matic in midfield with Paul Pogba suspended for the game. Matic is carrying a slight knock but Mourinho has confirmed that he will play the derby on Sunday.
Lingard is in a rich vein of form and the academy graduate is quite easily playing some of the finest football of his career. He is expected to start the game in an attacking midfielder’s position and if the previous games were anything to go by then Mourinho will literally give him a free licence.
Herrera – Matic – Lingard
ATTACK:
Anthony Martial will start on his favoured left-hand side of the pitch while Rashford will have to play from the right wing. But we presume that the English International will like to drift forward with every opportunity he gets.
Romelu Lukaku will lead the line as Mourinho has confirmed that Zlatan still needs time in order to fully recover from the ACL injury which he sustained in April.
Martial – Lukaku – Rashford
