Man United vs Man City – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Man Utd host Man City at Old Trafford in the English Premier League at lunchtime on Saturday. The hosts needed a late goal to rescue a point at Atalanta in midweek but have a fine record against City under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Pep Guardiola’s team has already failed to score in three Premier League matches this season and won’t want to fall further off the leaders.

Man United Form

United have performed poorly this season even when winning matches. They have lost five times in the last 11 and even their four wins have come through late winners at West Ham and against Villarreal and Atalanta.

Having lost consecutive league matches in 4-2 and 5-0 thrashings by Leicester and Liverpool, pressure mounted on Solskjaer’s job. He responded by changing formation and cruising to a 3-0 win away at Tottenham. In their last match, a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal was needed to rescue a 2-2 draw at Atlanta in the Champions League.

Man United Team News

Man Utd will be without central defender Raphael Varane for a month due to a hamstring injury. Victor Lindelof is also doubtful in central defence, which puts the 3-5-2 formation of the last two matches in doubt. Paul Pogba is suspended so Fred will return in the double pivot for this match.

In attack, Edinson Cavani will return to partner Ronaldo with Marcus Rashford likely to be on the bench. Should Solskjaer want to stick with a back three, then either Lindelof has to be fit or he could move Luke Shaw into the left center-back and start Alex Telles at left wingback.

Man United Motivation

After the humiliation in their last home match, the players will be very motivated to avoid a repeat. There is also real pressure on them knowing that the crowd could turn should they concede an early goal.

Solskjaer has found joy against Guardiola’s City (4 wins in 8) by playing an abrasive, defensive style and using counterattacks. The same is expected in this match and the side could focus on keeping a clean sheet in the first half to rebuild some confidence.

Man City Form

City has had a slightly strange season thus far. After netting five goals twice and six goals twice in August and September and winning at Stamford Bridge, they were then beaten by PSG. They have continued to score freely in certain matches since then with their last five bringing a five-goal haul and two matches where they netted four times.

However, City has failed to score in 3 of their 10 league matches already, the same total as all of last season. Their last league match saw a 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace with a paltry 0.7 xG produced. Aymeric Laporte’s red card before half-time didn’t help but they lacked ideas before that too. They bounced back to the cruise to a 4-1 win at home against Club Brugge in midweek.

Man City Team News

City is without Aymeric Laporte in central defence due to suspension. John Stones is expected to play ahead of Nathan Ake alongside Ruben Dias.

The only significant injury is to Ferran Torres in the attack. Phil Foden is expected to play as the false nine with two of Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, and Jack Grealish down the flanks. Kevin De Bruyne will return to the XI likely in place of Ilkay Gundogan.

Man City Motivation

City will play to dominate the match and will be prepared to face a Man Utd back five. Guardiola will put a lot of focus on stopping counter-attacks through Cavani and Ronaldo and may be safer in how his side keeps possession.

Man City will play to win this match but a draw would not be a disaster. A defeat certainly would be and Guardiola will not want the embarrassment of yet another loss to Solskjaer.

Key Stats

United have lost 4 of their last 8 home PL matches

Man Utd are 10 home matches without a clean sheet

United have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 PL matches

Solskjaer has won 4 of his 8 meetings with City boss Guardiola (all competitions)

City are winless in their last 4 PL matches vs Man Utd (L3, D1)

City have failed to score in 3 of their 10 PL matches this season, already as many as in 2020/21

Verdict

Man Utd’s inconsistent results and performance levels make this a difficult match to predict. City has what it takes to win but a draw is probably the safest bet with under 3.5 goals. It’s difficult to see Man Utd winning this match despite Solskjaer’s record against Guardiola.