The toughest start to a Premier League season in recent memory continues for Manchester United this Sunday when then the Red Devils travel across the city to the Etihad. After a strong week with wins against Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen you would be forgiven for thinking that David Moyes would settle for a point to wrap up the week against Manchester City, but with such a good record of four wins in his last six games against City, this may be a derby he expects to gain full points from.
In the managers press conference David Moyes said, “The recovery time from Tuesday to Sunday isn’t difficult” which would sound like the Scot will be making few changes for the up-coming derby.
In spite of what can be described as a ‘slight blunder’ on Tuesday night against Leverkusen, David De Gea will be expected to start in goal. I would expect the same four from Tuesday to line up in front of the Spaniard. Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemaja Vidic consistently holding their place in the back four, along with Chris Smalling who had a solid performance in the Champions League and should offer a stronger defensive option than the others available. This statement comes with a caveat, if Rafael is fit and ready to make his return then he will.
The midfield on Sunday will be one of the more interesting areas of the pitch, the brutish Belgian will be a welcome addition as he brings a strength to the side that has been missing for quite a while. Alongside Fellaini I would expect Michael Carrick to retain his place, with Antonio Valencia taking up the right of the midfield. The manager seems to be very impressed with Valencia, “He has done very well, ” stated Moyes. He went on to say, “Overall, I’ve been really pleased with him. I actually said to him today: ‘You should be getting yourself seven or eight goals a season regularly’. Hopefully he knows what I mean!”. Valencia has looked much improved over a very disappointing last season, I for one will be hoping he continues his form and can force Moyes to find it very hard to leave him out of the first eleven.
On the left of midfield it’s possible that Young may return to the team, even though he won the penalty against Crystal Palace last week I wasn’t impressed with his overall game. More importantly Moyes didn’t seem to take his yellow card for diving favorably which may weigh in his mind when deciding who to play. The other options available for Moyes are Nani, Kagawa, and Giggs. Kagawa got his first start of the season on Tuesday night and looked slightly fatigued before getting taken off. The inclusion of Kagawa in the Champions League game was a surprise to me, and a welcomed one at that. I think his participation on Sunday may be limited to cameo role towards to the end but I would be more than happy to be proven wrong again. Nani is another strong option after being unavailable for selection during the midweek due to suspension. My feeling is that Moyes may revert to Young on the left however.
There will be no prizes for guessing who the front two will be on Sunday, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie seem to be developing a strong partnership. United’s newest member of the ‘200 Club’ scored two goals on Tuesday night following a beautiful free-kick against Crystal Palace last weekend and will be looking to improve his already impressive record at the Etihad this Sunday. Robin Van Persie seems to be continuing in the only way he knows how, getting chances, scoring goals and generally looking like he wants to win everything.
This Sunday’s game is likely to be the hardest challenge Moyes has faced in his tenure. City have looked scintillating and frightful at times this season but it’s hard to imagine anything other than a determined performance in the derby. Hopefully the quality of United’s play continues to improve and we are all celebrating a resounding victory after the first derby of the season.
How do you think Manchester United will line up against Manchester City? Comment in the section below.
17 replies on “Manchester City vs Manchester United - United's Starting XI?”
I agree that team is possible and your reasoning is sound. However I hope that we see Kagawa or Nani in place of Young as he has been very poor lately. Another option would be Zaha- but perhaps too big a game for him. I would take any of the aforementioned ahead of Giggs, however, as he is no longer mobile enough for a game of this size. Nevertheless whoever is picked- c’mon United!
9ice one der
I think that Moyes will play with Nani instead of Young. By the way, it will be interesting to see whether Januzay and Zaha will be somewhere with reserves.
The starting 11’s are likely to be fairly evenly matched. In all honesty Citeh probably have marginally the more technically gifted players but United are a more settled and complete team. Citeh have a frighteningly good bench though if it comes down to that and they have home advantage. Still, this is a derby game and anything can happen but realistically I have to go with a Citeh win, by the odd goal from 3. That would not be a big deal this early in the season, there’s a long way to go and no side is looking invincible so far.
KAN C FELLAINI GETTING up once in a while in this game!!!! he may surprise us wth a goal!!!!! bt i luv the fact that hiz bullied yaya the past two seasons at everton & city hav lost 2gems to the troffies consecutively!!! he’s stronger than the ivorian by far!!!! koz av seen him demonstrate that even at eithad!! bt most important ov ol!!!!!!moyes has beaten city for the past two seasons & knoz what to do to bully them up!!!! kolarov shd prepare 4 nightmare against valencia that strong beast will slaughter him up!!!! ….no one evn in europe kan handle him wen on song!!!! maldini so famously got it rough… sam european nights ago..u kno wat valencia z about to do & he’ll do it by force prior 2 yo knowledge….thts psycologically irritative
Line up.de Gea.vidic. fernanand.evra.rafael or smalling.carrick.fellaini.valencia.kagawa or nani.
i know were good but I wouldn’t suggest we lined up with 10 men an no strikers!
Hope RVP wins it again for United. I’d take a Rooney winner, but I’m getting to the point where I can’t bare to watch him mumble his subjective, selfish, grating nonsense. The press have a field day and United end up looking like an average club
United fans do not need to feed this man’s ego; United are the biggest club in the world, and unless a player feels anything less than blessed to play in Manchester red he isn’t deserving of the honour
yeah we need to sign him up then get rid!
I will go with….dgea rafael vidic evans evra valencia fellani carrick nani rooney vpercie
Just as long as we don’t play young im happy. I would start with De Gea,Rafael if hes fit, Vidic, Ferd , Evra. Fellaini, Carrick, Valencia, Nani, Kagawa just behind RVP. I wouldn’t have a place for fat boy as hes a cunt
I would prefer:De Gea,Da Silver,Evra,Vidic,Evans,Fellaini,Carrick,Valencia,Kagawa,Rooney and Van Persie.I really miss Chicharito!The small goal scoring machine!United’s most underrated player!He has a better nose for goal than Welbeck especially now that Valencia is bringing in crosses.
DDG, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Fellaini, Carrick, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie.
United to win 2-1, Evra to score first.
i wound like moyes to put Zaha or Kagawa in place of Young, Because His style of play this Season is not impress at all
Young shouldn’t b included in ds game,he has perform realy below d par both @ the club & in d country level bt instead,lets fix welbeck cos he has been briliant so far odas are ok.
I wud fo go 4-3-3 de gea,evra,smalling,Vida,Rio,fella,carra,Kagawa,roo,VP,Valencia
sack moyes and shrek Everton rejects or Championship here we come