Manchester Derby: Golden opportunity for United - Probable lineups

Manchester United are unbeaten in the last 23 matches in the Premier League.
If United wins against City, they will sneak into the top four comfortably.

The stage is set at the Etihad Stadium for an epic encounter - the Manchester Derby is here ladies and gentlemen and quite obviously, the excitement level has been soaring since morning. On one hand, Manchester City is looking to hold their place in the top four and on the other, Manchester United's tremendous recovery has put them on the cusp of entering the top four.

With Liverpool struggling of late, United need to beat City by two goals to claim the third spot in the Premier League table. That will only be possible if Jose Mourinho's Red Army plays a similar game like they did against Chelsea.

Manchester Derby Golden opportunity for United Probable lineups

However, it is not going to be that easy for United as Mourinho has not managed to win one single game against Manchester City in the last four encounters (Drawn 2 and Lost 2). Pep Guardiola holds a much better record against the Portuguese manager.

United took a massive blow as Marcus Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of the season because of respective injuries. Paul Pogba is also not available for selection against City. That would mean Marcus Rashford will start up front yet again with Henrikh Mkhitaryan right behind him.

Manchester Derby Golden opportunity for United Probable lineups

The last time United and City played against each other on a Thursday was way back in 1994. United routed City 5-0 with a hat-trick from Andrei Kanchelskis. But time has changed a lot of things between these two sides. Both teams are upbeat and are not going to bow down easily in front of each other.

United now have two ways to feature in Champions League football in the next season - either they will have to lift the Europa League trophy or they will have to try and finish at the top four of the Premier League table.

Probable lineups:

Manchester City: Bravo; Navas, Kompany, Stones, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne, Sane; Aguero.

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Herrera, Fellaini, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Martial; Rashford.

Last Updated Mar 31, 2018, 6:41 PM IST