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3-4-1-2: Man Utd predicted XI to face Man City

Manchester United are set to welcome Premier League leaders Manchester City to Old Trafford on Sunday for the first derby of the season.

We start the weekend eight points behind our neighbours knowing that defeat would all but rule us out of the title race this season.

City are on an incredible run domestically with 13 consecutive Premier League victories but were beaten at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League midweek.  However, Guardiola made several changes with Ederson, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero the only regular first teamers participating in Ukraine.

Here is the team I think Jose Mourinho will put out on Sunday:

Goalkeeper: David de Gea

The Spaniard produced an heroic performance midweek in making 14 saves in our 3-1 victory at Arsenal and was given Tuesday night off as we beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 with Sergio Romero in goal.  David de Gea can expect another busy weekend when he returns to face the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and co.

Defence: Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo

Jose has already confirmed that Eric Bailly misses this game, whilst Phil Jones is a big doubt.  I don’t expect the England international to start due to the time he’s missed recently so I think we’ll see Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling pairing in defence again, supported by Marcos Rojo who has recently returned.  The Argentine was rested midweek.

Midfield: Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard

The boss says that Nemanja Matic is injured but will start whilst Paul Pogba’s suspension means that Ander Herrera is the most likely to partner the Serbian in centre midfield.  Antonio Valencia is a shoe in to start as the right wingback whilst Ashley Young will return on the left despite Luke Shaw’s man of the match performance midweek.  I think we’ll see Jesse Lingard in a number 10 role looking to hurt City on the counter-attack.

Attack: Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial

Romelu Lukaku got back among the goals midweek so comes into this game with some confidence whilst I think Anthony Martial gets the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford to start up front as the Englishman was the one whom started midweek.  Whether Martial starts alongside Lukaku or more left-sided remains to be seen.

Here is our team on paper: