The Manchester derby will be missing some key pieces when City visits United on Sunday (Watch live at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and online via NBCSports.com).
Harry Maguire is doubtful for the Red Devils, likely to join Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford as key pieces unable to tangle with the “noisy neighbors.”
[ MORE: Premier League schedule ]
City’s banged up, too, as Kevin De Bruyne is in doubt to play while Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane remain absent.
It will likely be City’s first look at Bruno Fernandes, who has three goals and two assists in seven appearances for the Red Devils.
Both teams played at midweek against Championship competition, City outlasting Sheffield Wednesday and United taking care of Derby County.
How the managers respond to derby stakes but fixture congestion is interesting, especially for City; The two-time reigning league champions have a rescheduled match with Arsenal on Wednesday.
Manchester United projected XI
De Gea
Wan-Bissaka — Lindelof — Bailly — Williams
McTominay — Matic — Fred
Fernandes
Martial — Greenwood
Why: Solskjaer will bring his hard men to the midfield and hope Fernandes, Martial, Greenwood, and his fullbacks can carve up City on the counter. He’ll save Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira to come off the bench.
Manchester City projected XI
Walker — Otamendi — Fernandinho — Mendy
Rodri — Gundogan
Mahrez — Foden — Sterling
Aguero
This could see Bernardo Silva played centrally for Foden and Jesus over Aguero, but we have Guardiola rewarding Foden for his sensational League Cup Final.
Follow @NicholasMendola
