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Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 8, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
 
Manchester City logo

2-0

Martial (30'), McTominay (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Manchester City could line up against Manchester United

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for Sunday's derby visit to Manchester United, with Kevin De Bruyne a major doubt for the visitors.

Manchester City return to Premier League action for the first time in a fortnight with a derby clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola's side have beaten Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, won a third successive EFL Cup trophy and progressed through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since they were last in Premier League action.

A difficult test awaits them upon their return, though, with Champions League-chasing United having already beaten them twice this season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Guardiola could line his side up for the contest.



Possible MNC XI vs. MNU

Out: Aymeric Laporte (hamstring), Leroy Sane (knee)
Doubtful: Kevin De Bruyne (back)

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

Man City's preparations for the short trip to Old Trafford have been dealt a blow by an injury to arguably their most important player, with Kevin De Bruyne missing the midweek FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Guardiola revealed in his pre-match press conference that the Belgian was "getting better", though, and he is set for a late fitness test as he battles to recover in time.

The experienced David Silva and the youth of Phil Foden - man of the match in last weekend's EFL Cup final - are waiting in the wings should De Bruyne fall short, with Ilkay Gundogan looking most likely to start in the third midfield spot alongside Rodri.

One of Guardiola's most intriguing decisions will be who to start up front, with Gabriel Jesus having featured regularly recently and scored the winner in their most recent league outing.

However, Sergio Aguero's record in this fixture could earn him the nod; the Argentine is just one goal short of equalling the Man City record for derby goals and two behind Wayne Rooney's all-time leading tally of 11.

Aguero surpassed another Rooney record with his winner against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, with that strike taking him to 254 goals in 367 appearances for Man City - one more than United's leading scorer managed in 559 outings for the Red Devils.

The Argentine also now has 23 goals across all competitions this season - more than any other Premier League player - so it would be a surprise if he was to miss out as he did at the Bernabeu.

Raheem Sterling's travails against United have been almost a polar opposite of Aguero's, with the winger still yet to find the back of the net in any of his 19 previous meetings with the Red Devils during his time at Liverpool and Man City - by far his worst record against any opponent.

Nonetheless, the England international's absence from the starting lineup at Hillsborough suggests that he will start this match, while the likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker and Fernandinho are also expected to come back into the side.

> Click here to see how Man United could line up for this contest

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Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their second goal with Riyad Mahrez and Benjamin Mendy on February 26, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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