By 1:30PM (GMT+1) today, Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag will arguably face their biggest test of the season when they host their rivals, Manchester City, at Old Trafford.
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| Manchester United host City today |
This will be a reverse fixture of their second heaviest defeat of the season — the match at Etihad which ended in a woeful 6-3 loss for the Red Devils via hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
But although, it is the same teams that'll be facing each other, albeit the injuries of John Stones and Diogo Dalot and the new signing of Wout Weghorst, a lot has changed about both clubs.
Manchester United currently enjoy a fine run of form starting since the end of the World Cup with 6 wins from 6 matches, 15 goals scored, and just 2 conceded.
City on the other hand haven't been as electric as they're used to as they've managed 4 wins out of 6, 12 goals scored, and 6 conceded — their latest match being a 2-0 loss to Southampton in Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The star players for United since the resumption have arguably been a rejuvenated Marcus Rashford, who is on a 6-match scoring streak, a dogged Casemiro, who has stabilized the otherwise shaky Manchester United midfield and defense, and a versatile Luke Shaw, who has covered at centre back and left back with little issues bagging a goal and 3 clean sheets.
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| Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life |
While for City, there hasn't been any over performers since the resumption except a direct Riyad Mahrez, a tricky Jack Grealish, and an imposing Erling Haaland.
City would come into this game with a freshly-rested starting eleven looking to work their way around Erik Ten Hag's tactics again.
But we have seen United get better over the past few months. Their defense now has a cohesion, David De Gea's distribution is getting better, Rashford is on fire, Casemiro is a stumbling block for opponents, and Christian Eriksen is joint-second on assists.
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| Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick against United few months ago |
City, on their own part, haven't slacked. They only drew against a determined Everton side, and lost to Southampton in a match that featured players like Kalvin Phillips and Cole Palmer.
Their own concerns might be Haaland's scoring since the resumption, and De Bruyne's consistent inexistence in games.
But even with that, they still have players that can do the damage at Old Trafford. Here are the lineups we feel will be fielded by both managers;
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
• GK - David De Gea
• RB - Aaron Wan-Bissaka fills in for injured Dalot due to his run of good form
• RCB - Raphael Varane
• LCB - Lisandro Martinez
• LB - Luke Shaw
• DM - Casemiro
• CM - Christian Eriksen
• AM - Bruno Fernandes
• RW - Antony
• LW - Marcus Rashford
• ST - Anthony Martial
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3)
• GK - Ederson
• RB - Kyle Walker
• RCB - Ruben Dias covers for the injured John Stones
• LCB - Nathan Ake
• LB - Joao Cancelo fills in despite his recent form
• DM - Rodri
• RCM - Kevin De Bruyne
• LCM - Bernardo Silva
• RW - Riyad Mahrez
• LW - Phil Foden
• CF - Erling Haaland
Score Predictions
Manchester United 3 -2 Manchester City
What do you think about the game?