Man City predicted lineup vs Man Utd – Premier League

Manchester City will be hoping to escape another nightmare outcome in their terrible run of form when they face local rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

The reigning Premier League winners appeared to be rebounding after four points from two domestic games, but a winners League defeat to Juventus has thrown Pep Guardiola’s club back into turmoil. Furthermore, when injuries and bans mount, the Catalan’s alternatives become increasingly limited.

He also faces a mental challenge, given that new United head coach Ruben Amorim delivered one of City’s most devastating defeats while he was still at Sporting CP only last month.

Which players can Guardiola turn to? Here’s the City team that may be sent this weekend.

Man City’s probable lineup vs Manchester United (4-1-4-1).

City requires significant changes (MARCO BERTORELLO/GettyImages). GK Stefan Ortega is expected to return to the starting lineup after Ederson made a mistake against Juventus.

RB: Kyle Walker – City’s injury issue has ran him into the ground, and it’s starting to show. The England international has been slow in recent months and will not have time to relax this weekend, especially with Rico Lewis banned.

CB: Ruben Dias. Dias recently stated that how City gets themselves out of their current situation will do more for the club’s legacy than winning the treble or four Premier League championships in a row. He talks a nice game, but his recent performances have been far below the standards that the Portugal international previously achieved.

CB: Jahmai Simpson-Pusey – Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones are all out, leaving Guardiola with limited choices to partner Dias. Simpson-Pusey, who has made two starts in losses against Sporting CP and Brighton & Hove Albion, may be forced to deputise.

LB: Josko Gvardiol. After partnering Dias in Turin on Wednesday, Gvardiol will most likely be moved back to left-back. The Croatian has been poor defensively and will face a severe test if United deploys Amad Diallo against him.

DM: Mateo Kovacic – Kovacic returned to the bench in midweek but did not play. The former Chelsea midfielder might make his first appearance since mid-November, having recovered from injury.

RW: Savinho – The 20-year-old Brazilian continues to mislead on City’s right, with no goals and four assists in all competitions.

AM: Bernardo Silva – Has risen up to be counted in recent weeks, scoring against Nottingham Forest and assisting Lewis versus Palace.

AM: Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has been eased back into the squad since returning from injury, but he might earn his third start in a little over a week against the Etihad. Has pulled the strings in past defeats of United, and a vintage performance would go down well with Guardiola.

LW: Matheus Nunes – The former Wolves midfielder has been repurposed as a wide player at City in recent months and has showed some of his greatest form in that position.

ST: Erling Haaland – The Norwegian Goliath still has 18 goals in all competitions in 2024/25, but his reputation has suffered severely during City’s terrible run. Nonetheless, he scored a hat-trick in his debut Manchester derby, a 6-3 thumping just over two years ago.