Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Louis van Gaal has a 50 per cent record so far in the Manchester United vs. Manchester City derby. His counterpart, Manuel Pellegrini can boast 75 per cent record, having beaten David Moyes' United home and away in his first season in charge.
This game will be the first truly significant test for United at Old Trafford so far this season—the Red Devils have enjoyed superb home form, unbeaten on their own patch, having won all but one of their games there.
City have thoroughly bounced back from their humbling 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 26 September with four wins in a row—with an aggregate scoreline of 15-4. Their last two Premier League matches have seen them put six past Newcastle United and five past Bournemouth, although United will hope to mount a tougher opposition to City's attack.
Pellegrini's free-scoring front line is partially a consequence of the abundance of expensively assembled talent available to City, but it is enhanced by the manager's belief in playing attack-minded football.
Pellegrini, speaking ahead of this one, said, per James Robson of Manchester Evening News: "To prepare to win the title, this team must play the right way or it’s not a successful season. For me it’s the best way to do it. It’s best for the club, the fans, the league."
Robson suggested in his article that this stood in contrast to Van Gaal's approach, which he said had been criticised for "a lack of ambition."
In fairness to Van Gaal's side, they have scored three goals in five of their last six domestic fixtures. United's manager denied feeling any additional pressure due to the importance of this clash, saying, per the club's website: "For me it’s not any issue because I have to do my work. You have to work more rationally and not emotionally. I think for the fans it’s very emotional."
He is right about that. Old Trafford will surely be at fever pitch for this one.
Date: Sunday, 25 October 2015
Time: 2:05 p.m. BST / 10:05 a.m. ET
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (U.K. Only) / NBCSN (U.S. Only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. Only) / NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. Only)
Form Lines
Manchester United: WWWLWD
Manchester City: WLWWWW
Team News
Van Gaal has told MUTV (h/t ManUtd.com's Mark Froggatt) that other than long-term injuries to Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw, the only United injury issue is that Ashley Young is not yet match fit due to having three weeks out.
United's website also says that Pellegrini told reporters: "The list of injured players is the same from the last game. It is David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy. Nobody will come back this week; maybe next week one or two players can start working with the team, but not yet."
Predicted Lineups
United have endured very mixed fortunes over the past two games, and that change in performance levels could mean Van Gaal brings about a more severe alteration to the lineup than the one predicted above.
Marcos Rojo was replaced with Daley Blind after a particularly poor performance in Moscow. Blind's passing could be a real asset to United, and City's right flank is theoretically less of an attacking threat than their left, assuming Jesus Navas plays.
Navas has two league assists and no goals, whereas on the left, Kevin De Bruyne has three league goals and three league assists so far this season, having played 243 fewer minutes.
Matteo Darmian could start in place of Antonio Valencia to add defensive solidity to United's right-back position, although Valencia put in a superb cross for Anthony Martial's goal in Moscow.
Michael Carrick could take the place of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was replaced at half time against CSKA Moscow by Marouane Fellaini, with Van Gaal switching United's shape from 4-2-3-1 to an orthodox 4-3-3.
It would be a bold gambit for Van Gaal to set United up in a 4-3-3 from the off, something that brought great success against City last season, but seems a long shot here, given how consistent Van Gaal's starting formation has been so far this season.
Elsewhere, Juan Mata will surely return to United's attack, given his creativity and eye for a goal in a big game. There is also the possibility that Memphis Depay will be restored to the lineup, although the knock-on effect of that would probably be that Ander Herrera will make way for Wayne Rooney to drop into the No. 10 position, with Martial moved back into the middle.
I spoke with B/R's Manchester City correspondent Rob Pollard, who suggested City would likely line up as above, although he also mentioned the possibility of Vincent Kompany starting.
He pointed out that Raheem Sterling has started centrally—with De Bruyne on the left—in City's past two games. Of course, those two are more than capable of switching positions, which could cause plenty of difficulties for United's defenders. City have fewer selection dilemmas than United, and the system will surely be as above.
Players to Watch
Anthony Martial proved yet again against Moscow that he is the well-rounded centre-forward United need. He struggled with the attentions of Moscow right-back Mario Fernandes in the first half, but in the second, he scored a brilliant header having drifted inside. It is a shame he is being played on the left to accommodate Rooney in a central role, but even from there he seems United's most potent attacker.
For City, with Silva and Aguero absent, it is hard to look beyond the spectacular form of De Bruyne. In his past eight games for club and country, he has racked up six goals and three assists. His goal against Sevilla was particularly crucial, giving City a much-needed European tonic. Of all their attacking threats, De Bruyne is currently the most dangerous.
Key Battle
From United's perspective, the key will be their defenders' ability to deal with the multi-faceted threat of City's front four. Sterling, De Bruyne and Wilfried Bony are a particular threat, ably supported by the attacking prowess of Yaya Toure, although Phil Jones and Chris Smalling will be grateful for Aguero's injury.
This battle will be made considerably easier if United's midfielders can occupy Toure and (most likely) Fernandinho. In recent seasons, City have had a clear edge in midfield, both on paper and more often than not on the pitch. However, Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Herrera could potentially hold their own against City's brilliant Ivorian.
They will need to in order to provide support for Rooney, Martial and Mata, and to ease the pressure on Jones and Smalling.
Odds
Manchester United Win: 163/100
Draw: 5/2
Manchester City Win: 37/20
Odds for the game correct at the time of writing, per Odds Shark.
All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.
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