Ruben Amorim will get his first taste of a Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Manchester United host City at 16:30 BST and we are hoping to complete a first league double over our crosstown rivals in five years.
A Bruno Fernandes penalty and Amad’s stoppage-time winner snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the Etihad Stadium prior to Christmas, and a repeat would be a huge boost to confidence ahead of Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Lyon in France.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the big game, including a significant injury for one of the Blues’ star men…
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
Sunday’s game is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, but subscribers can join us on MUTV from 15:25 BST for exclusive build-up from pitchside at Old Trafford.
Join former Reds Wes Brown and Phil Bardsley as they provide analysis and reaction, while, during the match itself, the United App is the place to be.
We provide live radio commentary, plus text updates and Opta-fed stats to keep you across all the action. Highlights will be available across our platforms from two hours after the final whistle.
TEAM NEWS
United’s injury issues have eased a little, with Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro all returning to action after injury at Nottingham Forest. Altay Bayindir was also in the matchday squad for the 1-0 defeat on Tuesday.
Amorim expects Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw to be back soon, while Amad, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven are ‘recovering’ as they hope to return before the end of the campaign.
City's top scorer Erling Haaland will miss Sunday’s game, with the Norwegian set to be sidelined for between five to seven weeks after picking up an ankle problem in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth on Sunday. Omar Marmoush, who scored the winner against the Cherries and netted against Leicester City in midweek, is most likely to deputise.
“We don’t have another player with his skills or specific qualities, we know that, but we have to adapt,”
said Pep Guardiola, of Haaland.
“For many years, we play with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players we’re going to find another solution.
“We will find a solution for the players that we have with different skills and qualities. We will find that.”
Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones have been injured and are still a number of weeks away from fitness, while Rodri is still on the recovery trail after rupturing his anterior-cruciate ligament in September.
FORM GUIDE
Our run of four league games without defeat came to an end on Tuesday, as Anthony Elanga’s fifth-minute goal was enough to secure victory for Nottingham Forest. This is our first league outing at Old Trafford since 9 March, when we drew 1-1 with Arsenal.
Guardiola’s men have stuttered on the road since their long Premier League unbeaten run was ended at Bournemouth in early November. City have only taken 11 points from their last 11 top-flight away games, with their three wins in that time coming against Leicester, Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur.
City's 2-0 victory over Leicester on Wednesday night was their first in the league since that February win at Spurs.
DID YOU KNOW?
United are looking for home-and-away league successes over Manchester City in the same season for the first time since 2019/20, with those coming under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial scored in a 2-1 victory in the away game in December, before a memorable 2-0 triumph at Old Trafford. Martial netted again before Scott McTominay's 96th-minute clincher produced an outpouring of emotion, just as the Covid pandemic was about to take hold.
RIVALS WATCH
SATURDAY 5 APRIL
Everton v Arsenal (12:30 BST)
Crystal Palace v Brighton
Ipswich Town v Wolves
West Ham United v Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (17:30 BST)
SUNDAY 6 APRIL
Brentford v Chelsea (14:00 BST)
Fulham v Liverpool (14:00 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton (14:00 BST)
UNITED v Manchester City (16:30 BST)
MONDAY 7 APRIL
Leicester City v Newcastle United (20:00 BST)
Kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated.