The two
Manchester clubs are set to face off for the first time under their new
managers - here's all you need to know
Manchester
United and Manchester City are set to do battle for the first time in the Jose
Mourinho and Pep Guardiola eras.
It's one every
football fan had their eye out for when the fixtures were first released.
Both managers
have got off to perfect starts, with United beating Bournemouth, Southampton
and Hull with City recording wins against Sunderland, Stoke and West Ham.
City were
dealt a big blow when Sergio Aguero's suspension was upheld after he was found
guilty of violent conduct for elbowing Winston Reid.
With both
managers looking to maintain their perfect records, who'll blink first?
Here's all you
need to know ahead of the massive clash ...
1. When is the
match and where can I see it?
The match,
taking place at Old Trafford. Kick-off is at 12.30pm UK time on Saturday
September 10 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1, with the build-up
starting at 11.30am.
2. Team news
Manchester
United
Jose Mourinho
has a full roster to pick from despite Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan cutting
their international duty short.
Shaw went back
to Manchester after feeling aches and pains in the leg he broke last season
while Mkhitaryan picked up a knock while playing for Armenia.
Antonio
Valencia returned to Carrington on Friday after playing for Ecuador last week
but is also available for selection.
Manchester
City
Pep Guardiola
will be forced into making a change following the suspension of Sergio Aguero.
Leroy Sane may
step in to make his debut should Guardiola overlook Kelechi Iheanacho.
New
goalkeeeper Claudio Bravo is also in line to make his debut following the
departure of Joe Hart.
However Ilkay
Gundogan still won't be ready to make his first appearance for the Blues after
a knee injury saw him miss pre-season, while captain Vincent Kompany also sits
out following a thigh operation.
3. Predicted
sides
Man Utd: David
De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba,
Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic.
Man City:
Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Gael Clichy,
Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandino, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Nolito, Leroy Sane.
4. Reasons for
United fans to be optimistic
Jose Mourinho's
home record. The Portuguese went 150 league games without losing on home soil
before managing another 45.
Zlatan
Ibrahimovic. Far from an easy payday, the talismanic Swede has hit the ground
running for the Reds, scoring four goals in his first four games.
The fear
factor is returning. United scored a late winner in the Community Shield
against Leicester before doing it in stoppage time against Hull reminding fans
of what used to be - and what may be to come.
5. Reasons for
City fans to be optimistic
Pep
Guardiola's record against Jose Mourinho. It's safe to say throughout the
years, the Spaniard has had Mourinho's number. Guardiola's sides have lost just
three times in 16 games against Mourinho's men.
Raheem
Sterling. The winger looks like the £49m signing City made last summer, as
opposed to the misfit he appeared to become. Arguably in the form of his life,
he could make the difference on Saturday.
It's away from
home. City have only lost one of their past five visits to Old Trafford - a run
which includes their 6-1 demolition job on their way to the title in 2012. At
home, however, they've won just three of their past eight.
6. Previous
meetings
Man City 0-1
Man Utd (Premier League, 2016)
Man Utd 0-0
Man City (Premier League, 2015)
Man Utd 4-2
Man City (Premier League, 2015)
Man City 1-0
Man Utd (Premier League, 2014)
7. Recent form
Man Utd last 5
games:
1-0 vs Hull
(Premier League)
2-0 vs
Southampton (Premier League)
1-3 vs
Bournemouth (Premier League)
1-2 vs
Leicester (Community Shield)
1-2 AET vs
Crystal Palace (FA Cup final)
Man City last
5 games:
3-1 vs West
Ham (Premier League)
1-0 vs Steaua
Bucharest (Champions League qualifier)
4-1 vs Stoke
(Premier League)
5-0 vs Steaua
Bucharest (Champions League qualifier)
2-1 vs
Sunderland (Premier League)
8. Man Utd's
key man
After a
scintillating start to his United career, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be looking to
add to his four goals.
If anyone had
any doubts over whether or not he meant business after leaving Paris
Saint-Germain on a free, he quickly moved to dispel them.
Scoring a late
winner against Leicester in the Community Shield before bagging a long-range
effort against Bournemouth and a brace against Southampton, Ibrahimovic may be the
20-goal striker United need.
9. Man City's
key man
In the absence
of the suspended Sergio Aguero, the goalscoring burden will likely be shared by
Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
Leroy Sane may
make his debut, but the aforementioned trio have all impressed in the Pep Guardiola
era and will probably have to take the mantle for the Blues to come away from
Old Trafford with anything.
But City's
player of the season so far - Aguero excluded - has been Sterling. The former
Liverpool man has looked every bit the £49m signed from Merseyside in 2015,
scoring two and making one in City's three league games so far.
10. Betting
odds from Unibet
Man Utd: 15/11
Draw: 23/10
Man City:
40/17
11. Quote
corner
Jose Mourinho:
"They are a very good team. They were a very good team since the new
owners arrived at Man City. They had very good managers.
"They
have now a very good manager. They had always very good players. So they are
what they are since I return to England in 2013. They're a title contender and
we have to respect them that way."
Pep Guardiola:
"I said it many times - I have a lot of respect for Mourinho. I always try
to learn from all of my colleagues - it's the same with him," Guardiola
said.
"He was
my coach, my assistant coach with Sir Bobby Robson. OK, the last period at
Barcelona and Real Madrid was not easy for both of us but we met each other
two, three weeks ago at the managers' Premier League meeting.
"Of
course I'll accept a glass of wine after the game if he invites me."
SOURCE: mirror.co.uk
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