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Manchester City welcome Man United to the Etihad today in a blockbuster Manchester derby.
Manchester City hope to get their season firmly back on track when Manchester United visit for an intriguing derby today.
City have lost their last two matches in the Premier League and are below United in the early-season table. The Blues will be keen to find a derby day win at the Etihad to kickstart their campaign.
Pep Guardiola will be without Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush, while John Stones is a fitness doubt.
Here's how our writers feel City should line up against United:
Tyrone Marshall
Why would you sign Gianluigi Donnarumma and not start him a derby? He’s trained twice and will be ready to go.
The defence is the issue given the injury concerns. If Stones is fit he plays, if he isn’t and Abdukodir Khusanov is ready then he plays. If Josko Gvardiol is available he can play at left back.
There are lots of potential combinations in defence but almost all of them are fitness dependant. Rico Lewis should start ahead of Matheus Nunes at right back.
The midfield looks set. Rodri was on the bench twice with Spain so should be fit to start.
Bernardo Silva is needed as captain and Tijjani Reijnders needs to get back to his best. I would start Phil Foden if he’s ready but that is unlikely, and he might be an option off the bench. That would mean Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland make up the front three.
Alex James
All the noise suggests that Donnarumma will start in goal but I would be tempted to keep faith with James Trafford even if the Italy captain is going to be first choice moving forward.
Donnarumma will have only had a couple of sessions with his new teammates and while he is an elite goalkeeper, his arrival will necessitate a shift in style. Given the injury uncertainties around the defence, and the relative lack of integration into his new surroundings, there doesn't feel a need to rush the 26-year-old into the XI.
If he was fully fit, I would be tempted to start Stones at right back, but given his fitness issues during the international break it doesn't make sense to rush him into the team. With Ait-Nouri out at left back, Nathan Ake can come and provide stability and contain Bryan Mbeumo.
That allows the more attack minded Lewis to start on the right with Ruben Dias and Gvardiol in the middle.
Rodri has to start, even if he might need replacing in the final quarter. Bernardo's experience and set piece delivery mean he plays in midfield along with Reijnders.
Haaland will lead the line and Bobb and Doku can offer the trickery to exploit the space behind the United wing backs with Foden an option off the bench to change the contest if needed.
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