Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has a nearly fully fit squad, so he’ll have plenty of options for the derby this weekend. Nico O’Reilly has been passed as fit, so does he return to the first team? If so, where? He’s very versatile, so it’s anyone’s best guess as to whom he might displace. Elsewhere, do you go with summer signing Iliman Ndiaye in the final third, on the wing? English veteran Phil Foden replaced him in the win at FC Porto, does he stay on?
Manchester Derby FYIs
Kickoff: Sun. Sept 13, 4:30pm, Old Trafford
Starting XI Predictions: Man United Man City
Team News: Man United Man City
Premier League Standings: Man United 11th, 4 pts Man City 1st, 9 pts
Premier League Form: Man United LWD Man City WWW
Probability, According to Google: Manchester United Wins 30% | Manchester City Wins 45% | Draw 25%
These are questions, right? And while we don’t have certain answers, we do offer predictions.
Manchester Derby: Predicted Starting XI for Manchester City
Gigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol; Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson; Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo; Erling Haaland
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.