Manchester United vs Manchester City predicted lineups, possible XIs, team news ahead of Manchester derby

The Manchester derby has gone back and forth the past few seasons, and Manchester United want to be the first rival to secure back-to-back wins in the series since March 2024. Manchester City are 2W-1D-3L in that span, having lost this fixture at Old Trafford in January to hand Michael Carrick a dream debut as interim manager of United. MORE — Manchester derby could set tone for power shift That City was.... pretty shorthanded. Pep Guardiola rolled out a back line of Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne, and Nathan Ake. Only Khusanov figures to feature in this derby, as Josko Gvardiol, Marc Guehi, and Ruben Dias present more experience and power. That doesn't mean Enzo Maresca will have easy choices everywhere else. Nico O'Reilly is back in a suddenly busy midfield picture, as Enzo Fernandez, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, and Lewis would all like a part of the equation. So how will Manchester United and Manchester City line up to start the Manchester derby? Manchester United predicted lineup — Lammens — — Dalot — Maguire — Martinez — Shaw — — Mainoo — Tielemans — — Mbeumo — Fernandes — Rashford — — Cunha — Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba, and Manuel Ugarte are missing through injury while Marcus Rashford was rested against Sabah. He could return here if Carrick doesn't give a quickfire second start to Benjamin Sesko, who has scored in successive fixtures. It seems like that would be a natural move, and Carrick doesn't yet seem to be a manager comfortable with rocking the boat. Marcus Rashford comes back into the team, and Tielemans and Mainoo should get another run while Baleba recovers — although Andrey Santos could sneak into the fold. Might Mason Mount get a surprise start? He split minutes with Tielemans at midweek. Manchester City predicted lineup — Donnarumma — — Khusanov — Dias — Guehi — Gvardiol — — Anderson — Fernandez — — Semenyo — Cherki — Ndiaye — — Haaland — O'Reilly is available again but the derby comes too soon for Jeremy Doku. There aren't too many changes worth expecting as Maresca will surely opt for his best back four and will have further embedded Enzo Fernandez in his plans following successive starts in the PL and Champions League. All told, it feels likely the right side will change from midweek, when Matheus Nunes played right back, Phil Foden right wing, and Bouaddi next to Fernandez. Rayan Ait-Nouri did have an assist at Porto and could have some momentum if Maresca wants to change Nunes but not go back to Khusanov.