Match preview: Man City (A)

How to watch and follow Man City v United

Friday 13 December 2024 14:51

Manchester United will make the short trip across the city to face Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League clash.

Last season’s FA Cup runners-up City are currently on their worst run of form since 2006, with Pep Guardiola’s side having only won one of their previous 10 games in all competitions.

Despite the recent woes, they are still in the Champions League places, sitting in fourth place in the league, two points above Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

After a win away at Viktoria Plzen on Thursday, Ruben Amorim will look to work his magic over City again, having beaten them 4-1 as Sporting manager earlier on in the season, in the 16:30 GMT kick-off.

Here is all the essential information you need, ahead of our next fixture...

Ruben's press conference v Man City Video

Press conference | Ruben Amorim on City's form, his first Manchester derby and the latest team news...

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?

MUTV’s Matchday Live show gets under way at at 15:25 GMT, featuring exclusive build-up and post-match reaction, either side of live radio commentary.

As always, you can tune in via ManUtd.com and the United App, where our match centre will have rolling updates, opinions and stats across the 90 minutes, as well as the highlights two hours after the final whistle.

Longer versions will be made available from Monday. The game is also being screened live on Sky Sports, for viewers in the UK.

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?

The Blues are in a poor run of form, winning just once in their last six Premier League games - a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Guardiola is definitely without versatile England international Rico Lewis and there are doubts over some of his defenders too. Manuel Akanji and John Stones have question marks over their involvement, while Nathan Ake looks set to remain absent after being forced to come off a week and a half ago.

Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden are available, unlike long-term injury victims Rodri and Oscar Bobb. Ederson and Stefan Ortega have been sharing goalkeeping duties of late.

United have no senior absentees, with Amorim having confirmed that Jonny Evans is back in training, and it is expected that as strong a side as possible will start following the midweek win in the Czech Republic.

OPPOSITION REPORT

The Blues fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Juventus, which leaves their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League in jeopardy.

Pep Guardiola still sees his side in the healthy position of fourth in the league but they do find themselves eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

The reigning Premier League champions saw their hopes of a domestic double dashed by United in May, with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scoring for the Reds in a 2-1 victory at Wembley Stadium.

City have conceded twice or more in seven of their last 11 games, as many as in their previous 62 league outings.

DID YOU KNOW?

Amorim has already beaten the Blues as head coach of Sporting and now he has the chance to carve out a small piece of history. If United prevail on Sunday, the Portuguese will become the first person to guide two different teams to wins over a Guardiola side in a single season. 

Bruno Fernandes will be crucial if this record is to be broken, with our captain getting an assist in each of his last three appearances against the Citizens. He's managed a total of five goal involvements in the last six against Sunday’s opposition.

Full 90: Manchester City v United Video

FULL 90 REPLAY | Watch every single minute of our memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City...

RIVALS WATCH

It is a full house of Premier League fixtures which includes another couple of derbies...

SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER

Arsenal v Everton Wolves v Ipswich Newcastle v Leicester Liverpool v Fulham Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (17:30 GMT)

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER

Brighton v Crystal Palace (14:00 GMT) Manchester City v UNITED (16:30 GMT) Southampton v Tottenham (19:00 GMT) Chelsea v Brentford (19:00 GMT)

MONDAY 16 DECEMBER

Bournemouth v West Ham (20:00 GMT)

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