Phil Foden starts as one of six changes from the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones are both unfit for the Manchester derby while Ederson, Oleks Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling all return.

Sterling is making his 250th Premier League appearance today - and at 25 years and 91 days is the fourth youngest player in the competition’s history to reach that milestone. 

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City starting XI:

Ederson, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Walker, Jesus, D Silva, Mendy, Mahrez, Garcia

United starting XI:

De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Williams, Maguire, Lindelof, Matic, Fred, Fernandes, James, Martial

Subs: Romero, Bailly, Mata, Ighalo, Greenwood, Tuanzebe, McTominay

Formation: 4-3-3

City look set to go 4-3-3 with Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo as full-backs and Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi in central defence.

Rodrigo will be the anchor behind Ilkay Gundogan and Foden, with Sterling and Bernardo on the flanks supplying Aguero in the middle.

City look to strengthen grip on second spot

With a seven-point gap and a game in hand, City will look to extend the gap to third position in the Premier League with only 10 games remaining after today.

Of course, until mathematically possible, City will continue to try and accumulate as many points as possible, while focusing on the Champions League and FA Cup.

Plus, it’s the Manchester derby, so Pep Guardiola will want to ensure City fans have the bragging rights going into the summer months – though don’t rule out a possible fifth derby if both teams continue to progress in the FA Cup.

An all Manchester final? Don’t bet against it.

In-form Reds a threat

United have already beaten City twice this season – both at the Etihad Stadium – and come into this game in fine form.

Unbeaten in nine games - during which time they’ve scored 22 goals and conceded just twice – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have their eye on a Champions League berth and are still in the FA Cup and Europa League.

The arrival of Bruno Fernandes has given United’s attack a spark that was perhaps lacking previously.

The Portuguese has scored in his last three games and City will need to keep him quiet this afternoon if we are to make the short journey home with all three points this afternoon.

Stats and facts

United could lose four consecutive home games against City in all competitions for only the second time in their history.

Bizarrely, the away side has won six of the past seven meetings in all competitions.

United are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, winning six and drawing three.

City have won their last four games in four different competitions: Premier League, League Cup, Champions League and FA Cup.

The Blues have only lost one of the last eight league matches, winning six and drawing one.

City have never lost a Premier League game in March under Pep Guardiola - their last defeat in the month came in 2016… against Manchester United.

Pep has won all three of his Premier League away games at Old Trafford - no visiting manager has won more there.

Sergio Aguero has scored nine goals in all competitions in Manchester derbies.