Manchester City face bitter rivals Manchester United in the first derby of the season at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues are heading into the Manchester derby behind United in the Premier League table for the first time since December 2020, after losing two of their opening three fixtures.
Ruben Amorim’s side haven’t fared much better with just four points so far in the league, and crashed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to League 2 side Grimsby Town a few weeks ago.
Here are five things to look out
for as blue meets red in Manchester:
Donnarumma making his debut
Anyone remember the last world renowned goalkeeper, highly favoured by Pep Guardiola, that replaced a departing club legend and made his debut in a Manchester derby?
That’s right, Claudio Bravo!
The Blues were successful but Bravo left a lot to be desired on his debut at Old Trafford nine years ago, when goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho were enough for City to squeak a 2-1 victory over the line.
But City’s newest signing is a completely different type of goalkeeper to the Chilean, and I expect him to start and make his mark in the derby.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is not a typical Pep Guardiola goalkeeper. The City manager has preferred his ‘keepers to be good with their feet above all else, hence his removal of Joe Hart upon taking over in 2016.
But Donnarumma doesn’t fit the mould. He’s a world class goalkeeper and an excellent shot stopper, but leaves a lot to be desired with his feet.
Though against United who will probably penetrate City’s backline quite a lot on the break, I expect Donnarumma’s shot stopping to come in handy on his debut.
Players returning from injury
There was a period of time where City looked to have an injury crisis ahead of the derby, but that appears to not be the case anymore.
Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis all pulled out of their national squads, whilst Phil Foden, Savinho, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol weren’t even selected due to their injuries. All of those players seem to now be in contention for the derby.
John Stones is a doubt after leaving England duty and Omar Marmoush’s injury picked up playing for Egypt isn’t as bad as first feared, leaving him sidelined for just a few weeks.
Rayan Cherki is out for another six weeks and Rayan Ait-Nouri still isn’t fully fit after the heavy tackle he received during the Tottenham game. Other than that, everyone is good to go.
The returning players, particularly Gvardiol and Foden, have the potential to really make the difference for City.
Their elite level and familiarity with the system is a good combination with the new players providing energy but still finding their feet.
Who starts on the left of attack?
Marmoush’s injury means options on the left hand side are looking slim.
Jeremy Doku is the obvious choice, but despite his good match against Kazakhstan in the international break, he’s not had a great start to the season and has never really impressed before in a Manchester derby.
Savinho, fresh back from “injury” is another choice. But whether Guardiola would throw him straight in having not played for a month (or whether he even sees him as a left winger) remains to be seen.
Ait-Nouri’s injury causes some issues, as one option could be a narrow left winger, such as Foden, with the Algerian full back providing the width.
It could be replicated with Gvardiol or O’Reilly but I suspect that may be unlikely.
Doku is the most likely to start, and though he is exciting to watch, he needs to prove more than that if he wants to help City on their way to victory.
The threat of United on the transition
United are finally starting to find players that fit Amorim’s system, and you can expect them to surely do better this season than finish 15th, as they did last year.
Bryan Mbeumo was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, and Matheus Cunha also impressed at Wolves.
Injury rules Cunha and fellow attacking midfielder Mason Mount out of the derby, which means United are likely to set up with a forward line of Bruno Fernandes and Mbeumo behind new superstar striker Benjamin Sesko.
Fernandes is one of the best playmakers in the league, and Mbeumo threatens running in behind. Sesko hasn’t had much time to prove himself yet, but he too at RB Leipzig liked to counter attack.
City have struggled hugely against fast attackers, and you can expect them to do the same against United based on recent evidence.
Khusanov’s pace helps, and Gvardiol will also help look after Mbeumo on the left of City’s defence, but given the recent struggles of City as a defensive unit, you can expect that to continue.
Derby day pride important for both teams
Both sides have had an underwhelming start to the season and will want to put things right in the derby.
United may well be a point ahead of City in the league, but after three games (where their only win required a last minute penalty from Fernandes against newly promoted Burnley at Old Trafford) it means little.
City always lose at home to Spurs, and whilst Brighton was annoying, they were the better team for 60 minutes and players returning to fitness will raise the level of the team across the full 90.
It’ll be a passionate, intense derby due to the importance it holds for both teams, and I think if they dig deep enough City can find the quality to overcome their fiercest rivals.
