The in-form John Stones gets the nod in central defence ahead of Aymeric Laporte, with only Riyad Mahrez, Kyle Walker and Fernandinho remaining from the team that started in midweek.
Sergio Aguero is unwell, Nathan Ake is rested after playing in midweek and Eric Garcia is injured.
UNITED V CITY: MATCHDAY CENTRE
Teams:
City: Ederson, Walker, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Fernandinho (c), Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez
Subs: Steffen, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Torres, Mendy, Foden
United: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood, Rashford
Substitutes: Bailly, Mata, Martial, Henderson, Telles, Matic, van de Beek
Formation: 4-3-3
John Stones and Ruben Dias will continue their partnership in the centre of City’s defence with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo the full-backs.
Rodrigo and Fernandinho may provide a double anchor shield in front of the back four, with Kevin De Bruyne given an attacking, freer role in midfield.
Riyad Mahrez will play on the right, with Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling likely to have stints in the middle and out left.
Unpredictable United
United’s results this season have been hard to call.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team are capable of beating any side in the Premier League but they’ve drifted between devastating and disappointing with not much in-between this season.
At Old Trafford, the behind closed doors element has clearly had a negative effect on the Reds, with just one home win from five and just three goals scored.
That includes a 6-1 home defeat by Tottenham – and City will look to exploit their home woes this afternoon.
On the road, United have a 100% record in the Premier League, winning all five of their matches to date.
But the Reds’ were eliminated from the Champions League in midweek and will know that winning the Manchester derby would be the perfect response.
City will be ready for that – but will need to be more ruthless in front of goal when the opportunities arrive.
Match officials
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Lee Betts, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin
Stats and facts
None of the past eight meetings has ended in a draw and just one in the past 13 has had a tied game.
Manchester United won three of the four meetings last season, including doing the Premier League double over their neighbours for the first time in a decade.
Six of the past eight Manchester derbies in all competitions have been won by the away team, while there have only been three home wins in 13.
City have won seven Premier League away games at Old Trafford, more than any other visiting side.
There have been 150 top-flight Manchester derbies - United have won 58 and City 45, with 47 draws.
City are looking to win three league matches in a row for the first time this season.
City scored seven goals without reply in our previous two league games.
Pep Guardiola‘s side haven’t kept three clean sheets in a row in the league since May 2019.
Raheem Sterling has never scored in 16 Premier League appearances against Manchester United.
The most recent English player to score in a Premier League Manchester derby for City was James Milner in 2013.
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