Manchester derby bragging rights are on the line as Manchester City visits Manchester United on Wednesday and top four positioning is at stake for the historic clubs (start time 8:30am ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com).
An extra day off and home cooking are not enough to install Manchester United as the favorites, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tries to outfox Pep Guardiola at Old Trafford.
WATCH MANCHESTER DERBY STREAM LIVE - LINK
Man City’s slipped five points off the Premier League title pace and sits third with 20 points after a loss to Crystal Palace.
United is three points back of its City rivals, and taking even one point from Saturday to give the Red Devils five of nine available points from Tottenham, Atalanta, and Man City would trigger sighs of relief from Solskjaer and his supporters.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Manchester United vs Man City.
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Live analysis on Manchester United vs Manchester City! - By Joe Prince-Wright
The reaction is coming in all the time from Old Trafford.
Mancunian Phil Foden says Man City had ‘the game of our lives’ and says the win is ‘special’ as he clearly enjoyed roaming about and ripping Aaron Wan-Bissaka apart. City were majestic.
What now for Manchester United? Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under even more pressure? There’s an argument to be made that many elements of that defeat to Man City were worse than the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at home two weeks ago...
FULL TIME: Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City - Well, that was all rather easy for Pep Guardiola’s boys. Manchester is Blue. 68 percent possession for City. 5 shots on target to United’s 1. City had 32 touches in United’s box compared to four. We could go on and on...
"Calm annihilation" perfectly sums up what Manchester City have done to Manchester United today.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 6, 2021
"Methodically Majestic" works too. #MCFC #MUFC #MUNMCI #ManchesterDerby
Luke Shaw replaced by Alex Telles. Shaw has been struggling with a knock for most of the game. City strolling to victory, as Phil Foden clips the post.
Marcus Rashford is on for Man United. 23 minutes to go. All very easy for Man City.
City are having the odd attack, but United seeing a lot of the ball. Much better from them in this half. But they are 2-0 down.
The lesser spotted Donny van de Beek is out to warm up at Old Trafford. He gets a huge ovation from the #MUFC fans.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 6, 2021
It seems like United are caught between going for it, and trying not get hammered like they did against Liverpool. Not a great limbo.
SECOND HALF: The game has restarted and United have gone back to a 4-2-3-1 with Sancho replacing Bailly.
Jadon Sancho on for Eric Bailly at half time. Sancho out on the left. #MUFC have ditched the back 3. They've gone to a 4-2-3-1 with Sancho, Bruno and Greenwood underneath Ronaldo. #MUNMCI
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 6, 2021
GOALLL! Right on half time City double their lead. It was coming, but that goal was comical. Joao Cancelo clips a cross to the back post and Luke Shaw totally switched off. Bernardo Silva ghosts in behind him and somehow squeezes the ball past David de Gea, who should do better. City get a deserved second. Disaster for Man United, who would have been very lucky to only be 1-0 down at half time.
😱 Luke Shaw switches off and Bernardo Silva somehow squeezes it past David de Gea and in.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 6, 2021
Manchester City deservedly lead 2-0 at half time at Manchester United. #MCFC smooth. #MUFC shaky. A very one-sided #ManchesterDerby, so far. pic.twitter.com/YE7UT5Djb4
SAVE x 2!!! Firstly Phil Foden breezes past Aaron Wan-Bissaka and crosses, as Victor Lindelof deflects the ball towards his own goal but David de Gea saves. Moments later De Gea denies Kevin de Bruyne and then blocks another effort from a corner.
SAVE! What a stop from David de Gea. A loose ball falls to Gabriel Jesus but DDG tips it over. Shambolic Man United defending before that to let Phil Foden in, as Kevin de Bruyne’s shot was blocked initially.
SAVE! What a brilliant volley from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ederson saves, then Mason Greenwood couldn’t react to finish the rebound. Much better from Manchester United. Superb technique from Ronaldo with the ball behind him. Take a look at this. Great stuff all round.
EDERSON SAYS NO #MUNMCI #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/moGjwmcfpI
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 6, 2021
United have steadied the ship a little, but City look in control.
GOALLLLL! Eric Bailly scores an own goal and Man City lead at Man United. Kyle Walker’s first cross almost finished by Ilkay Gundogan. United half clear, but then Joao Cancelo’s cross is knocked into his own net by Bailly. Erratic defending from United and City lead. This should open the game up nicely.
🔵🔥👏 Two fantastic crosses from Manchester City. Almost scored on the first. Eric Bailly puts the second into his own net.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 6, 2021
Manchester United's defensive struggles continue. Do they change their gameplan now?#MUFC 0-1 #MCFC #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/j15IBVZZqa
WIDE! Luke Shaw’s free kick from the left finds Harry Maguire in the box but he heads wide. Ruben Dias did just enough to put him off. City have had a lot of the ball, but United look dangerous.
KICK OFF: We are off at Old Trafford. Gabriel Jesus is starting on the right. Looks like Bernardo Silva is in the false nine.
Morning all! The 186th Manchester Derby is here
What a way to start the weekend. Manchester Derby. Red. Blue. Rivals colliding. Does it get much better than this? Probably not.
Anyway, the atmosphere is building at Old Trafford and kick off is just around the corner with tension building in Manchester, England.
Fun fact: the tension is building in Manchester, New Hampshire too.
Whichever team wins, City Hall will be lit up in their colors and the locals are fired up. We spent time there earlier this week and Manchester, NH is split down the middle too. Red or Blue?
All eyes will be on the Manchester Derby in Manchester, New Hampshire Saturday morning.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2021
The New England town is ready to become blue or red: https://t.co/N3YJMnX9h9 pic.twitter.com/52tCCXEj0w
Manchester United team news, injuries, lineup
Was Raphael Varane rushed back too soon from his injury? The star center back lasted less than a match-and-a-half and will be out for another month after picking up an injury against Atalanta. Paul Pogba remains suspended with a red card but Victor Lindelof starts after battling back to fitness. Mason Greenwood starts up top with Cristiano Ronaldo, as Edinson Cavani misses out.
🚨 𝑻𝑬𝑨𝑴 𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺 🚨
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 6, 2021
Introducing the Reds line-up for the Manchester derby ✊#MUFC | #MUNMCI
Manchester City team news, injuries, lineup
Aymeric Laporte will be out through red card suspension, while long-term injuries are keeping Ferran Torres and Liam Delap from being available for selection. Benjamin Mendy remains suspended. Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez drop out, with Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne coming in.
Your derby day line-up! 🔵🔴
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 6, 2021
XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden
SUBS | Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/OmTbxgVcUq
Odds and ends (full odds provided by our partner, PointsBet)
Manchester United (+350) | Man City (-143) | Draw (+290)
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Prediction
Derbies are notoriously difficult to predict but the absences of Pogba and Varane ask more of United than any missing City player. Kevin De Bruyne is due to break out and something tells us Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling will have something to say in this one. Manchester United 1-3 Man City.