United v City: How to follow the Manchester derby

It will be the first Manchester derby played in front of a crowd since March 2020, when goals from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay secured a memorable win just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Every game between these two sides is fiercely contested and there's plenty at stake this time too, as United attempt to further claw back the deficit on City, in the standings, after the Blues' surprise home defeat to Crystal Palace last time out.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the fixture, starting with how you can watch and follow the game...

HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME

The game kicks off at 12:30 GMT and is being broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. As usual, you can follow all the matchday build-up and post-match analysis, plus radio commentary of the game itself, on MUTV. The programme begins at 11:25 GMT. Live updates are also available on ManUtd.com and in our Official App.

TEAM NEWS

Paul Pogba will definitely sit out the game, as he serves the second of a three-match domestic suspension for the red card he was shown in the defeat to Liverpool. The same is true for his France team-mate, Raphael Varane, after the club confirmed he will be out for around a month due to the hamstring injury he sustained against Atalanta on Tuesday night. Victor Lindelof was absent from the trip to Bergamo after picking up a knock in training.

City also have defensive worries, with Aymeric Laporte banned for one match following his professional foul on Wilfried Zaha against Palace last Saturday. John Stones, who scored an own goal as the Blues beat Club Brugge 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, could once again be called upon to partner Ruben Dias. Elsewhere, Ferran Torres won't play again this year after suffering a metatarsal injury while with Spain last month.

LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

United got back to winning ways in the Premier League last time out, beating Tottenham via goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford. The Reds will be keen to record a first Old Trafford league win since mid-September, with Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool all taking points off us in M16 since the 4-1 win over Newcastle United.

We currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, two places and three points behind City. The reigning champions have had a mixed start to the season as they have thumped Norwich, Arsenal and Brighton but also lost narrowly to Tottenham and Crystal Palace. The defeat to Patrick Vieira's men was one of the surprises of the campaign so far, with Zaha and Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher bringing City's eight-match unbeaten run to an end.

RECENT MEETINGS

United are unbeaten against City in the Premier League since 2019, with a tight 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last season being followed up with a superb performance, and second straight top-flight win, at the Etihad Stadium in March. Bruno Fernandes's early penalty gave Solskjaer's side the impetus, before Luke Shaw's breakaway goal in the second half wrapped up the result. Guardiola's side did win a Carabao Cup semi-final tie on our patch in January 2021, though, and have only lost on one of their last six visits.

KEY STATS

Solskjaer has won four of his eight meetings with Guardiola in all competitions, the best win rate of any manager to face the Spaniard at least five times (50 per cent).

Ronaldo has scored three goals in his last five Premier League Manchester derbies, with his last goal in his first stint at the Reds coming against City in May 2009.

If he plays, Shaw will make his 200th appearance for United since joining from Southampton in 2014.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett
Fourth official: Robert Jones
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan

RIVALS WATCH

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Southampton v Aston Villa (20:00 GMT)

SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER

UNITED v Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
Brentford v Norwich
Chelsea v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Wolves
Brighton v Newcastle (17:30 GMT)

SUNDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Arsenal v Watford (14:00 GMT)
Everton v Tottenham (14:00 GMT)
Leeds v Leicester (14:00 GMT)
West Ham v Liverpool (16:30 GMT)

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated.