Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola.

Your essential guide to the 183rd Manchester derby

Wednesday 09 December 2020 11:48

Manchester United meet Manchester City for the first time this season on Saturday evening, as we go head-to-head with our near neighbours in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

Ole’s Reds go into this weekend’s derby off the back of a disappointing midweek loss to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, although we have won our last four league outings.

Having already secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, City are expected to rest players for Wednesday’s meeting with Marseille, and are a point behind United in the league table.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 183rd Manchester derby…

March's meeting with City was the last time fans were in attendance at a game at Old Trafford - let's hope supporters can return soon!

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch Saturday’s 17:30 GMT kick-off live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Fans can also keep up to date with everything going on in M16 via rolling updates on ManUtd.com and our Official App, where you can also track in-game data using our Match Centre. MUTV will provide build-up, live radio commentary and post-match reaction as well as showing a full rerun of the game the following day. 

TEAM NEWS

Ole will hope to call on the services of Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani for Saturday’s game. The pair both missed the midweek trip to Germany, but may recover in the time for the derby. Luke Shaw returned to the starting line-up during the loss to Leipzig, but it remains to be seen whether two matches in a week will be too much for the defender, following a recent injury. Fred is also in contention to play after he missed Tuesday match through suspension.

As for the visitors, striker Sergio Aguero could be in line for a Premier League return having missed the majority of the season with a knee injury. Kyle Walker could also be available after he sat out last week’s victory over Fulham.

FORM GUIDE

While it was European frustration for the Reds on Tuesday, our league form has been excellent of late, with last weekend’s 3-1 win over West Ham United our fourth successive victory in the competition. Three of those wins came on our travels, so Ole’s Reds will be looking to build on that 1-0 triumph over West Bromwich Albion at the Theatre of Dreams last month and get some momentum rolling on home turf, by claiming the derby-day spoils on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men have begun to strike up some form in the league too, picking up three points in both of their last two outings - against Burnley and Fulham - without conceding a goal. Those wins mean City go into Saturday’s showdown just a point and a place behind United, as they occupy seventh spot in the table after 10 games. 

DERBY DAY RECORD

The Reds have won exactly half of the 46 meetings between the sides in the Premier League, with City winning 15 and there being eight draws. Last season, we recored a double over our local rivals, when goals from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay secured a 2-0 win for us on home soil in March, following an impressive 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the campaign. Overall, from 182 meetings with City in all competitions, United have won 76, drawn 52 and lost 54.

Highlights: United 2 City 0 Video

Highlights: United 2 City 0

Settle back and enjoy the best bits from our last Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford...

THE MANAGER

Pep Guardiola is no stranger to United fans having led Barcelona to victories against the Reds in the both the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals. After a decorated time in charge of the club that he spent over a decade with as a player, Guardiola managed Bayern Munich to three successive Bundesliga titles in Germany, before arriving in Manchester in the summer of 2016. Since taking charge in east Manchester, the former Spain international has guided City to two Premier League titles as part of a haul of domestic silverware.

OPPOSITION KEY MAN

Kevin De Bruyne has been at the heart of City’s attacking prowess in recent seasons and is a player in form going into Saturday’s clash. The attacking midfielder has two goals and six assists already in the league this season, including one of each in the Blues’ 2-0 win over Fulham last weekend. The Belgian now ranks second in this season’s Premier League assist charts behind only Tottenham Hotspurs’ Harry Kane (10).

De Bruyne equalled Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a single season, during the '19/20 campaign.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Lee Betts and Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin

RIVALS WATCH

FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 
Leeds United v West Ham United (20:00 GMT)

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Newcastle United v West Bromwich (15:00 GMT)
UNITED v Manchester City (17:30 GMT)
Everton v Chelsea (20:00 GMT)

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 
Southampton v Sheffield United (12:00 GMT)
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (14:15 GMT)
Fulham v Liverpool (16:30 GMT)
Arsenal v Burnley (19:15 GMT)
Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (19:15 GMT)

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