Phil Foden drops to the bench and John Stones is rested for this evening’s game
As expected, Kevin De Bruyne is missing with injury and Benjamin Mendy remains side-lined with a minor knock.
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LIVE: United v City: Matchday Centre
City line-up:
Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Kompany, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Gundogan, D Silva, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero
Subs: Muric, Otamendi, Foden, G Jesus, Mahrez, Sane, Danilo
Manchester United XI:
And in the red corner... 🔴#MUFC #MUNMCI
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 24, 2019
Formation and tactics
With the personnel selected, City will most likely go 4-3-3 against United.
Fernandinho’s return allows Ilkay Gundogan to a more advanced role alongside David Silva.
Bernardo and Raheem Sterling again provide the width for 30-goal Sergio Aguero.
Kompany will skipper the side.
Expect the Blues to press high with energy and aim to pin the hosts back as much as possible.
United may look to follow Tottenham’s lead and knock the ball long into the spaces Kyle Walker and Oleks Zinchenko leave when they attack.
Marcus Rashford’s pace will be a threat if the Reds do opt to play the ball out of defence quickly, much as Heung-min Son was for Spurs.
Powder keg derby?
Much has been written about how some United fans would rather lose to City than see Liverpool win the title, but once the game begins, the only focus of either team and each set of fans will be winning the Manchester derby.
The first few challenges will set the tone for the evening and it will be interesting to see how referee Andre Marriner looks to keep tempers under control.
The Blues will need to keep their heads and focus on the job in hand, but expect the first 15 minutes to be frantic as United steam out of the blocks in an attempt to quickly erase the memory of Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Everton.
Stats and milestones
Bernardo Silva will make his 100th appearance for the Blues this evening.
City are looking for a sixth win in eight Premier League visits and victory would set a new record for a visiting club at Old Trafford in the Premier League era of seven wins.
The Reds have lost six of their last eight matches in all competitions – their worst run since 1989.
United have failed to record a clean sheet in their last 11 games – their worst run for 21 years.
United’s only defeat against the reigning Premier League champions came in 2013 – a 2-1 loss to City – they’ve won nine and drawn three of the other 12 matches.
The Blues have won 10 Premier League games on the bounce.
City will tonight look to set a new goals record in all competitions – two are needed to set the bar at 157 which would be one more than the 156 Manuel Pellegrini’s side set in 2013/14.
If City can win, it will be a good omen – all three Premier League titles for the Blues saw a victory at Old Trafford along the way,
Sergio Aguero remains one goals short of becoming the second player to score at least 20 Premier League in six different seasons - Alan Shearer is the only striker to have achieved the feat this far.
Aguero has scored four Premier League goals at Old Trafford and only Steven Gerrard (5) has more as a visiting player.
