Manchester City v Manchester United - Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS:

Manchester City: The hosts are likely to recall star striker Sergio Aguero for the game despite understudy Gabriel Jesus scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek. Kevin De Bruyne, Eliaquim Mangala and Claudio Bravo all remain sidelined long term. but other than that manager Pep Guardiola has no fresh injury concerns.

Manchester United: Romelu Lukaku could be involved in some capacity after he returned to training on Friday after missing the games against Bournemouth and Juventus with a hamstring complaint, whilst late checks will be made on midfielder Paul Pogba after he sat out that session. Young defender Diogo Dalot is a doubt having picked up a problem during the international break, but the experienced Antonio Valencia could feature after traveling to Turin with the rest of the squad in midweek.

WHO'S SAYING WHAT?

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on United:

"No doubt they've improved. If they can win in Turin, it shows how strong they are.

"It doesn't matter if [our] confidence is good - it's always complicated. Throughout the history United have beat City more.

"They have incredible talent up front and in the middle as well.

"We have to defend deep, avoid set-pieces as they are huge and far better than us. We have to control the ball more and be clinical."

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho:

"If we keep conceding goals before the opponent, it will arrive the day where we cannot come back. So, we have to make sure we grow up not just in our approach - because I think that is clear that the team is growing up.

"But also we have to grow up in our compactness and to start matches well. Which, I have to say against Juventus, happened."

Form:

Did you know?

Manchester United have a chance to claim back-to-back league wins at the Etihad for only the second time (The previous occasion coming across the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons.)

Manchester City have won just two of their last eight Manchester derbies in all competitions (W2, D2, L4).

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last three league visits to City (W2, D1, L0) and have kept two clean sheets in the process.

City have taken 25 points from a possible 27 at the Etihad since losing to United in April, scoring 32 goals and conceding only four.

City are unbeaten in 53 top-flight games against sides begging the day outside the top four (W44, D9, L0). Their last such defeat came in a 4-0 loss to Everton in January 2017.

Pep Guardiola has never lost consecutive home league games against a single opponent as a manager.

Guardiola has won nine of his 21 encounters with United boss Jose Mouringo (W9, D7, L5).

The game will be Mourinho's 300th Premier League game as a manager (W189, D67, L43).

A goal for Anthony Martial will see him become only the seventh United player to score in five consecutive Premier League games for the club, emulating Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie.

Juan Mata is a goal away from becoming the fifth Spaniard to score 50 Premier League goals.

POSSIBLE LINEUPS:

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Kompany, Delph; Fernandinho, Gundogan, D.Silva; B.Silva, Aguero, Sterling.

Manchester United: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Pogba, Herrera; Lingard, Rashford, Martial.