England international could be back in action within a fortnight
Manchester City vs Manchester United
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 2.00pm, Sunday 2nd October 2022
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, S Bennett Fourth Official: D Coote VAR: P Tierney
Odds: Man City 4/11, Draw 9/2, United 13/2
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Laporte, Akanji, Gomez, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Palmer, Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez
Injured: Stones, Phillips
Doubtful: Laporte
Suspended: None
Form guide: WDWWW
Manchester United
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Squad (from): De Gea, Heaton, Dubravka, Lindelof, Jones, Martinez, Malacia, Varane, Dalot, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Eriksen, Fred, Casemiro, van de Beek, McTominay, Ronaldo, Martial, Rashford, Antony, Sancho, Elanga
Injured: Williams
Doubtful: Maguire, Dubravka, Rashford, Martial
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWLW
John Stones is unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury whilst on international duty with England, but his injury is not as bad as first feared. Kalvin Phillips is also absent after undergoing surgery on a shoulder probem, but Aymeric Laporte is available for selection after resuming first team training.
United have improved this season under new manager Erik Ten Hag, and Pep Guardiola is aware of the threat posed by the visitors on Sunday.
“They have physicality and quality in the middle, the centre backs so aggressive. Good pace outside. It’s Man Utd it has always been like that,” said Guardiola at Friday's press conference.
“I always expect the best from our opponents. The quality they have is undoubted for many years.
“They come from a very good result against Southampton away which is not easy and Arsenal at home. Good momentum for them.
“It’s a big rivalry in the city and I will try to figure out what they are going to do and what we can do to beat them.
"I'm looking forward to the game."
City won their last game against United at The Etihad 4-1, with goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez. Overall City have won 55 of the 176 games played against United, with 50 draws and 71 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Haaland
Score prediction: City 2 United 1